Conspiracy – Mordecai
In the concluding part of series on Security, today we shall focus on the benefactor in Queen Esther’s life (Mordecai adopted her when she was an orphan) -Mordecai (a Benjaminite) – who was also a government official under that Mighty Persian King Xerxes. Now he had a bitter enemy in Haman, the Agagite, whom the King had promoted to the post of grand vizier (modern day Prime-minister, virtually second-in-command to the King); the enmity stemming from the fact that Mordecai refused to make obeisance to the higher placed Haman on religious grounds (Esther 3:3,4).
Before Haman’s vengeful mood reached its boiling point (Esther 5:9-14) culminating in his conspiracy to eliminate Mordecai, we should note that Mordecai had once exposed a plot to assassinate King Xerxes (husband of Queen Esther), which was duly recorded in the Royal chronicles (Esther 2:21-23).
Haman’s conspiracy on the inspiration of his wife and relatives to eliminate Mordecai (by hanging him on the specially built gallows measuring 75 feet high) was quite simple. Being such an important part of the state’s affairs, he was merely going to use his power of influence he wielded on the King by simply recommending (the first thing on the next meeting with the King) Mordecai’s death by the hanging mode. The King, would no doubt, oblige considering Haman’s personal equation with him. All very simple, it seemed, so much so, Haman had the gallows built to carry out his nefarious designs.
Everything planned to the last detail, what Haman however did not take into account was that God was overseeing the entire situation. He who protects His dear ones from dangers coming not only from the front, but from the rear too (of which we would not be even aware – See Isaiah 52:12) was not going to let the unsuspecting Mordecai (he never knew that he was next door to death) fall prey to the wicked scheming of Haman.
So what did God do? Let us once again pick-up action from the Bible…Esther 6 verses 1 through 3. It says the King had trouble sleeping that night; hence, to give some exercise to his eyes (perhaps many of us in his place in modern times would switch on the TV) and to pass time he ordered that royal records be brought for his reading. There he comes across the incident where Mordecai saves his life from two royal conspirators and with sentiments of gratitude instantly aroused in him, wonders aloud whether Mordecai was adequately rewarded for this life-saving act. Hey presto! Who should walk into the King’s presence at that time other than Haman with his request seemingly ready on his lips to hang Mordecai, but with King posing a question to him “What should be done for the man, the King delights to honor?” His chance to put forward his evil recommendation is thwarted, at least temporarily.
Ever the egotist (it is joked that whenever an egotist goes to funeral, he is sorry that he is not the corpse; so deep is his craving to be the center of attraction at all times), Haman quite naturally surmises that King is planning to fete him, hence comes with a befitting recommendation to that effect stating, “Let him be robed in royal clothing, let him be carried in a royal horse in a stately parade through the streets with a very high noble prince leading and heralding the way.” Haman would have frozen on his tracks when he heard the King retort: “Go at once and do all that you have recommended to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the King’s gate.” So, in utter frustration, the Bible says Haman (sic) did just that (verse 11). What a turning of the tables! How God frustrated the evil schemes of wicked Haman and saved the life of his precious Mordecai! But notice where it all began in verse 1: “That night the King had trouble sleeping…” This paved the way for rest of the events to occur, as they did.
Dear friends, this restlessness of the king in the night, just before Haman was to carry out his evil plans; was that a case of mere coincidence? No! Not by any stretch of imagination. It was yet another providential act of God providing “security” to his precious ones, just when they needed it.
Later, in the seventh chapter of book of Esther, we see God’s judgment finally catching up with Haman; he is hanged in the very gallows he had built for hanging Mordecai, with Mordecai going on to replace him in the King’s court. The very definition of poetic justice, if there was one! Also in a way that entire account is about completing “some unfinished business.” Remember King Saul spared King Agag the Amalekite disobeying God (Deu 25: 17-19/I Samuel 15), now who were Mordecai and Haman…if not the direct descendents of King Saul and King Agag respectively (Esther 2:5/Esther 3:1)!!!
Dear friend, that’s our God for you, the omnipotent, omniscient One. Nothing escapes His notice. He is always on the lookout to come to the aid of his precious ones. Ever willing to put His protective hedge around them. Shouldn’t we trust Him for providing security to and in our lives? It would be foolhardy, not to!
Prayer: Father, into Thy powerful hands, we re-commit our lives, knowing fully well that no danger can harm us, as long as we are in Your hands. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Suresh Manoharan
An unworthy servant
J and SM Ministries
(To access the entire “Security” mini-series, please click here.)