Father’s Day was Sunday. If you are a father, Happy Father’s Day! Mordecai was a father figure to Esther. Not only did he save the King’s life by stopping an assassination plot, he displayed many other noble qualities as well. As we look at chapter 8, we will see several things that we can learn from him.
Adoption
Esther revealed her relationship to Mordecai to the King (v. 1). Esther was orphaned and Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter (2:7). Why would one person adopt another? Because God adopted us and made us part of His family. Galatians 4:4-5 says, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Adoption is the analogy God chose to portray salvation. He adopted us out of a hopeless situation, redeeming us. God is going to accomplish His purposes, but He wants to do it through us! Are we doing what we can to protect and provide for others? Jesus wants us to care for orphans, the abused, the elderly, those with special needs, and for the outcasts of society.
Intercession
In verses 3-6 we see that Esther had the ear of the King. Why does she intercede for the Jewish people? Because Mordecai sent word to her to go and intercede for their lives. Esther nor Mordecai may not have wanted to be put in their position of leadership, but God does not always give us what is easy. Verse 3 says Esther “fell at his feet, wept, and begged” the King to stop the plot against the Jews. What are you that passionate about? God and God’s people are all that matter in eternity. We should fall at the feet of King Jesus and beg Him to save our loved ones, who do not know Christ, from destruction.
Protection
Ultimately, the King issued an edict that “gave the Jews in each and every city the right to assemble and defend themselves, to destroy, kill, and annihilate every ethnic and provincial army hostile to them, including women and children, and to take their possessions as spoils of war” (v. 11). The enemies of God’s people were planning to kill, rape, enslave, and confiscate the land and assets. There is a just war and a just cause, and the Bible teaches self-defense. If someone breaks in your house and tries to kill your family, on the authority of God’s Word call 911 and defend yourself! Verse 11 is nothing more than a direct reversal of 3:13. It is equal justice. Verse 12 says they were given one day to kill. This is not an abuse of authority. Only self-defense was permitted. We need to pray for law enforcement and military put in harm’s way. They make difficult decisions in complicated situations. If a police officer is being fired upon, he has the right to return fire; but, he can’t just go and shoot unarmed people. The military has the right to defend our country. Police have the right to defend our communities. Citizens have the right to defend themselves and their families. What will we do with the power and influence we have?
Mission
Verse 14 says, “The couriers rode out in haste” to deliver the good news to the Jews. When they heard it, “the Jews celebrated with gladness, joy, and honor” (v. 16). There was an urgency to get the word out to every people group. They were successful missionaries! We want Liberty to be known not for our seating capacity, but our sending capacity. Just like the military deploys men and women around the world, we are deploying men, women, boys, and girls, into the world of business, politics, media, sports, entertainment, education, law, medicine, and ministry, living out their faith every day.
Esther and Mordecai is a beautiful story of how men and women work together to protect their families, to win their neighbors, and to be missionaries. We are here to change lives, communities, and the world for Jesus Christ! We need Christians in our cities and communities changing culture to protect those who are abused or mistreated. We need Christians who cry out for justice. Laws do not change people. Only Jesus can change people.
