CENTRAL THOUGHT
Promotion acquired through God’s standard is enduring.
TEXT: ESTHER 6:1-10; 10:1-3
INTRODUCTION:
Everyone loves to be promoted, either as a servant/ worker or a student. Mordecai, a war captive, started as a servant at the gate in the palace of king Ahasuerus. He later became a great man. Staying true to God’s word may cost us positions and advantages in the short run, but those who choose God over money/ power will one day acquire heavenly wealth beyond measure (Matt. 6:19-21).
God is using the situations we face daily to weave a pattern of godliness into our character. The pathway to glory or promotion is humility and obedience. A heart and an attitude of obedience and humility remain the bedrock on the pathway to promotion and success in life.
The natural man is arrogant, self-willed, self-centered, and disobedient. Such people as Haman, Prime Minister to King Ahasuerus, find it difficult to submit to the authority of God. God had woven an effective counterstrategy against which Haman’s plan could not stand. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Any believer who chooses to go the way of humility has chosen the path to greatness, promotion, and honor. Another route which we can be lifted is through the submission to God like Mordecai. True submission involves having little or no regard for one’s personality and achievement in life and taking on the position of obedient and humble servant which will create an avenue for promotion and exaltation.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
- To discuss Mordecai and his initial status in Shushan
- Examine the divine intervention in the life of Mordecai
- Identify the role played by Mordecai in the life of Esther
- Highlight the honor done to Mordecai
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1A) WHO WAS MORDECAI AND WHAT WAS HIS INITIAL STATUS IN SHUSHAN? Esther 2:5-6,19
Mordecai was a Jew of the tribe of Benjamite, from Kish family. His family was one of the Israelite families taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He as a war captive who became the King’s gate keeper.
QUESTION 1B) COMMENT ON SOME OF THE ACTIONS OF MORDECAI INCLUDING THE RISKS THAT HE TOOK. Esther 2:21-23; 3:2-4; 4:1-2; 13-14
Mordecai was faced with a lot of challenges which he turned into opportunities. First, he exposed the plot to kill king Nebuchadnezzar by two of his chamberlains. This was a great risk for Mordecai. Moreover, as a Jew, he refused to bow and reverence Haman, the King’s Prime Minister, and was told to Haman by fellow attendants to the King. This brought him into disfavor before Haman, who hated him (Mordecai) to the extent of plotting to eliminate all Jews in the whole kingdom. With this information, Mordecai carried out a one-man demonstration (clothed with sackcloth and ashes) to draw Queen Esther’s attention to the death sentence passed on all Jews. The rewards for doing right are sometimes delayed, but guaranteed by God.
QUESTION 2A) READ ESTHER 6:1-10 AND DISCUSS THE DIVINE INTERVENTION IN THE LIFE OF MORDECAI.
Mordecai violated so many palace rules which would have led to severe punishment. Haman had even capitalized on one of such disobedience to desire his death. The last stage of Haman’s plot was to be executed the next morning, but the God of the Jews intervened that night as He made the King to remain awake throughout the night. The only thing that came to his mind was to read the book of records of the chronicles before him. In it he saw the good work of Mordecai that was never rewarded. (Note here that the King could have done other things like drinking wine, playing game of his choice, etc.) God’s intervention led him (the King) to honor his servant (Mordecai) who has honored him in a strange land. Instead, Mordecai for promoted by the King.
QUESTION 2B) WHAT USEFUL LESSONS CAN BE DERIVED FROM THIS?
Several lessons can be learned from this episode, these include:
(i). Opportunities we have are more important than the ones we wish we had
(ii). We can trust God to weave together the events of life for our best
(iii). Hatred will not go unpunished
(iv). God has a way of making evil plans backfire
(v). an insatiable thirst for power and prestige is self destruction
QUESTION 3A) WHAT ROLE DID MORDECAI PLAY IN THE LIFE OF ESTHER?
Esther 2:5-7; 4:13-17
When Mordecai’s uncle and aunt died in the land of Babylon, he adopted Esther and felt responsible for her upbringing. As a father, Mordecai brought Esther up in the way of the Lord, taught her the word of God, the Spiritual exercised that the Jews were involved in, such as prayer with fasting in difficult times. At various stages, Mordecai gave godly counsel and instructions to Esther, including behavioral patterns during the virgins contest for Queenship in the King’s palace. He also encouraged her to take a step of faith to approach the King concerning Haman’s plot to execute all Jews in the land of Babylon.
QUESTION 3B) DID ESTHER CONTRIBUTE IN ANY WAY TO MORDECAI’S PROMOTIONS? Esther 8:1-2. ANY LESSONS?
While we should not rest our faith on earthly rewards for being faithful to God, they often come. Esther and Mordecai were faithful even to the point of risking their lives to save others. When they were willing to give up everything, God rewarded them beyond expectation.
God used Esther to contribute to Mordecai’s promotion in the following ways:
(i). She reported Mordecai’s exposure of the palace coup in Mordecai’s name. (Esther 2:22)
(ii). She approached the King, against the law, to save Mordecai and all the Jews. (Esther 4:16-17; 5:1-2)
(iii). She finally introduced Mordecai to King Ahasuerus on ‘who he was to her’. (Esther 8:1)
(iv). She set Mordecai over the house of Haman who became Babylon’s Prime Minister in place of Haman. (Esther 8:2)
QUESTION 4A) READ ESTHER 6:6-12 AND HIGHLIGHT THE HONOR DONE TO MORDECAI.
Mordecai’s enemy highlighted the great honor that was done, supposedly to himself. Many of the events that have worked together for good are more than mere coincidence. They are the result of God’s sovereign control over the course of people’s lives. (Rom. 8:28)
As recommended by Haman, Mordecai was greatly honored in the Land of Babylon:
(i). The King’s ceremonial royal robe was put on Mordecai.
(ii). Mordecai rode on the King’s royal horse, which had a royal crown placed on its head.
(iii). Mordecai was taken on the King’s royal horse from street to street with the King’s most noble personality, who was Haman, proclaiming him as the person whom the King delighted to honor.
QUESTION 4B) READ ESTHER 8:1-2; 9:4; 10:1-3 AND DISCUSS THE NEW STATUS OF MORDECAI.
Mordecai, a faithful gate keeper at the King’s palace, was later promoted by God through King Ahasuerus. The new status of Mordecai can best be described as promotion from God. (Psalm 75:6-7)
(i). King Ahasuerus gave Mordecai the seal of authority (ring) which he took from Haman, as the Prime Minister to the King.
(ii). Queen Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman for a possession.
(iii). Mordecai became great in the King’s house and became famous throughout all the provinces of Babylon.
(iv). The King constantly declared the greatness of Mordecai before all the people.
(v). Mordecai became next to King Ahasuerus.
(vi). His advancement and activities were documented in the book of Chronicles of Kings. What a great honor!
(vii). He became great among the Jews as he continued to seek their good and spoke up for their welfare.
QUESTION 5A) DISCUSS OUR ROLES IN GETTING PROMOTION? Prov 10:4; 22:29; Luke 19:15-19
It is clear that true promotion comes only from God. However, God also expects us not to fold our hands. The hands of the diligent make rich; seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before Kings; he shall not stand before mean men. This implies that there is lifting for the diligent mind. God will always bless the labour of our hands. He increases whatever we do for a living. God does not bless emptiness. Diligence, faithfulness, and the right heart with God are required.
QUESTION 5B) HAS GOD ANY ROLE TO PLAY IN OUR PROMOTION? DISCUSS PSALM 75:6-7
God knows us more than we know ourselves. He formed us to suit His purpose. He is the one who raises one and brings another down. The promotion does not come from anywhere else other than from God. God Almighty knows the best place and position we can function properly for His purpose. Esther, a Jewess, became Queen, and Mordecai’s role in exposing an assassination plot got rewarded by the King. Not only was Haman prevented from killing Mordecai, he also had to suffer the humiliation of publicly honoring him. God can use situations and circumstances to bring a lifting to His people. Be committed to the course of God always.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
The war slave, Mordecai became next to the king of Persia (Babylon) (Esther 10:3). His kindness to Esther, the King, and his refusal to join others to do evil paid off. The fear of God and hard work will bring promotion. God is ready to lift us up in His time.
The most arrogant people are often those who measure themselves by the power or influence they think they have over others. Mordecai’s dedication to God and his refusal to give homage to any human personality challenged Haman’s self-centered religion. We should not throw away our birthright for a “morsel of bread” which does come as a desire for position, money, prestige, promotion, etc.
God is using the situations we face daily to weave a pattern of godliness into our character. Pause and ask God to help you respond appropriately to the situations you find yourself in today. Any believer who chooses to go the way of humility has chosen the path of greatness, promotion, and honor.
MEMORY VERSE:
1 PETER 5:6
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
MONDAY: UNCONTROLLED ANGER LEADS TO EVIL THOUGHT. Esther 3:5-6
TUESDAY: THE KING HONORS MORDECAI. Esther 6:1-11
WEDNESDAY: THE WICKED RECEIVES HIS DUE WAGES. Esther 7:1-10
THURSDAY: A JEWISH GATE KEEPER BECAME A PRIME MINISTER IN BABYLON. Esther 10:1-3
FRIDAY: GOD’S SOVEREIGN CONTROL OVER THE COURSE OF PEOPLE’S LIVES. Rom. 8:28; Esther 6:1-3
SATURDAY: WRONG WAY OF GETTING PROMOTION. Acts 8:18-21