“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
Mordecai was an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin, whose great-grandfather, Kish, had been exiled to Babylon, over a hundred years earlier, along with Jeconiah, king of Judah. King Cyrus the Great (of Persia) had decreed the Jews could return to Israel nearly 60 years before the events recorded in Esther. The two books preceding Esther (Ezra and Nehemiah) offer a record of those events. Obviously, there were many Jewish families who chose to remain in Persia...including Mordecai’s. He resided at Susa, the Capitol of Persia. He adopted his cousin Hadassah (Esther), an orphan child, whom he raised as his own daughter. When she was brought into the king's harem and made queen in place of the deposed queen Vashti, he was promoted to some office in the court of Ahasuerus, and was one of those who "sat in the king's gate"
Through the timely discovery of a plot to assassinate the king, Mordecai received favor from Xerxes, and eventually became the king’s political advisor for the Persian empire. He has been believed by many to have been the author of the Book of Esther; and the Feast of Purim is closely associated with his name...called "the day of Mordecai" (2 Maccabees 15:36).
Mordecai was of admirable character and we may glean the following qualities from the text of Esther...
1. Mordecai was compassionate to the needs of others...
It is evident from the outset that Mordecai had concern for others...evidenced, most of all, by his adoption of his orphaned niece Hadassah (later named Esther) after her parents’ deaths. When Esther was taken to be the next queen, Mordecai was not far away from her, even waiting outside her quarters to learn about Esther from the other women there (Esther 2:11). He also showed compassion when he learned of Haman’s plan to have all Jews killed in the kingdom and wore sackcloth and ashes...a public display of grief, remorse, or repentance.
2. Mordecai was wise...
Mordecai’s intelligence is recognized quickly. He told Esther not to reveal her Jewish heritage at first, waiting until after she shared Haman’s evil plan with King Ahasuerus. He also informed Esther of the eunuchs’ plot to kill the king, making sure that the knowledge was brought to the king by Esther, ensuring the king’s gratitude toward her. In the same manner, he informed Esther of Haman’s plot allowing her to be the conduit for informing the king. Mordecai’s ability to read a situation to know when to act played a significant role is rescuing the entire Jewish community.
3. Mordecai had the courage to stand up for his beliefs...
One attribute that is undeniable with Mordecai is he never was one to buckle under peer pressure. He understood his Jewish heritage and certainly knew the account of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refusing to bow before the image of Nebuchadnezzar. A devout Jew bowed before no one but Yahweh. Haman’s promotion meant many in the kingdom were forced to bow down to him by order of the king, but Mordecai refused...even though there was the strong possibility Haman might order his death.
4. Mordecai had hope in God’s callings and provisions...
One of the most celebrated verses in the Bible comes from the lips of Mordecai, when he was speaking with Esther about informing King Ahasuerus of Haman’s plot. He doesn’t minimize the possibility that if she approaches the king uninvited and when he discovers Esther’s Jewish heritage, she may die. Instead, Mordecai fortifies Esther with the possibility the God prepared her for this precise moment; “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14).
Mordecai’s faith in God is evident throughout the book of Esther. His words and actions reflect a man who’s motivation was the welfare of others according to the will of God. Because of this, God richly blessed Mordecai and he was appointed second in command to the king. This unexpected blessing from God was not meant to elevate Mordecai, but to ensure continued protection for the Jews in the kingdom. As Billy Graham once said, “All of these material blessings are gifts from God, given in order that we might humble ourselves, fall upon our knees before Him, and call upon His name.” By doing what he knew to be God’s calling on him, Mordecai was blessed by God and was placed in a position to continue God’s mission on a greater scale...to an entire community.
Will we be “Mordecai” for our neighbors? If not us, who?
Live boldly out there today...
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