Favor and Grace for the Humble

“For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.” (Esther 10:3)

This is the last verse in the book of Esther and the conclusion of all that happened to the Jews and how the Lord saved His people from destruction. Although the Jews were a captive people since Nebuchadnezzar took them to Babylon, seventy years, they were helped by the Lord through seven Babylonian kings, then the Perian invasion and by Esther’s time were under the fifth Persian king, Artaxerxes I. So, through those chapters in the Bible during the captivity, we will read about different kings which can become confusing. Also, when the Jews returned to Jerusalem under Cyrus, not all the Jews returned from captivity. Those who remained, were under Cyrus who ruled three years and then Ahasuerus or Artaxerxes I. The events in the book of Esther covered a span of fourteen years. In the end of all that Haman the enemy of the Jews tried, to exterminate the Jews, failed because the Lord used Esther to save the people. Although they were under the judgement of the Lord for their sin, God still loved and cared for them.

Mordecai was Esther’s cousin who had adopted her. He had been part of the Sanhedrin. And history records that he was a Benjaminite and that Kish who was the father of King Saul. The Talmud, which is, “after the Hebrew Bible, the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law and Jewish theology” according to Wikipedia, agrees that Mordecai is a descendant of King Saul.

Is this important? It didn’t matter that Mordecai was a descendant of King Saul. He never exalted himself in that respect. What is important is that God used Mordecai and the cousin he adopted greatly to save the people of Israel from Haman. He was wise and alert, saving the king from a plot to kill him. It shows his integrity in righteousness. “In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name. And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.” (Esther 2:21-23) And for his integrity he was honored to a position next in authority and power to the king.

Mordecai was honored by the king because the Lord favored him. “But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another.” (Psalms 75:7) Mordecai’s loyalty was for his people. His interest was not in elevating himself, but he used his position for the welfare of the captive Jews throughout the kingdom. How different is the world. When one reaches high recognition, fame or position, they elevate themselves above others. A sister in Christ told me of a TV weather man who seemed so amiable of TV, down to earth and connected to his viewers. She ran into him and approached him to say hello and to tell him how much she enjoyed seeing him on TV. He looked down at her with distain and said he didn’t speak to people. Evidently his TV persona was an act. And his fame made him think he was better than others.

God sees the intentions and motives of the heart. “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10) Words and actions can be like the TV weatherman’s above, just an act.  But God sees the heart. There is no fooling Him. God told Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons king, but God didn’t tell him which one. When he thought surely one was because of his stature, God spoke to him. “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1Samuel 16:7)

God hates pride. Pride is defined as “a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements.” If you have been reading the lessons the Lord has given us, you know how many times we have learned that it is all God. We can do nothing apart from the Lord from Whom comes wisdom, knowledge and understanding. “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6) Those who pride themselves in their accomplishments without giving the Lord credit are arrogant and an abomination to the Lord. “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5)

Being humble in heart is the opposite of being proud. “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” (James 4:6) God favors and exalts the humble like He did Mordecai. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” (James 4:10) Peter also writes that God resists the proud. “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1Peter 5:5) The word resist was translated for the Greek word oppose. God opposes the efforts of the proud.  But God favors, exalts and gives grace to the humble. Such was Mordecai, even in his elevated position, his heart was to see the best for his people and his descendants.