Pam Padgett ... teacher
When Haman, who was above the princes of king Ahasuerus, knew that Mordecai, a Jew, did not bow down and reverence him, he
sought to destroy not only Mordecai, but all the Jews in the kingdom ...
Esther 3:5 And when Haman saw
that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of
wrath. 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they
had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy
all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even
the people of Mordecai.
Haman told the king
there were people who did not keep the king's laws and suggested they
be destroyed. The king gave Haman authority to do what seemed good to
him, and Haman set about to destroy the Jews.
Esther
3:8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people
scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of
thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep
they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to
suffer them. 9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be
destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands
of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the
king's treasuries. 10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave
it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. 11
And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people
also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee. 12 Then were the
king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and
there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the
king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province,
and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the
writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name
of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring. 13
And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to
destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old,
little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of
the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of
them for a prey.
When Mordecai knew this, he did not try to appease Haman by going along with him and starting to worship him. Instead, he humbled
himself before God, as did many of the other Jews when they heard ...
Esther 4:When
Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and
put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city,
and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2 And came even before the
king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with
sackcloth. 3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment
and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and
fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
When considering these things, I was reminded of ...
Isaiah
8:11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed
me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, 12 Say ye
not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A
confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the
LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your
dread.
We hold God above all in our
lives, not going along with evil, but fearing HIM, dreading doing what
is evil in HIS sight. In each problem we face, God is our hope for
help, not people ...
Psalm 121:2
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not
suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The
LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun
shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall
preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8 The LORD
shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and
even for evermore.
Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. 26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.