In our scripture readings for today from the book of Esther, we finally meet the antagonist of the story, the newly promoted high official, Haman. Esther's adoptive father Mordecai has a problem with bowing down to Haman, and Haman responds by convincing the king to issue a decree for not just the death of Mordecai, but the destruction of all of Mordecai's people, the Jews, in all the lands of the Persian empire – an attempt at genocide. And Mordecai appeals to Queen Esther, to risk her life in an attempt to reverse the decree, and save their people. Esther responds with humility and courage, in the same way that Jesus responded with humility and courage to save us....
In the late 1800's, a new word entered the English language, coming across from the Russian word meaning “devastation”, or “riot.” That word is “pogrom.” It's definition is as follows: a pogrom is an organized, officially tolerated attack or massacre aimed at the destruction or annihilation of a specific community or group, particularly based on their race or religion, used to describe violent, state-sponsored riots targeting Jewish populations. “Pogrom” came across to English on the occasion of the attacks on Jews condoned by the Russian Tsar, as depicted in the popular movie, “Fiddler on the Roof.” But the Ancient Persian word “hamasara” could just as easily have been used, because for the Jewish people, pogroms are nothing new....
The first question that must be asked in our story today, is “what was Mordecai's problem?” If Mordecai just bends the knee to Haman, this whole catastrophic event does not happen. Why couldn't Mordecai just “go along to get along?”
It's not like Mordecai had a problem with King Ahasuerus – in fact, he even saved Ahasuerus' life by revealing an assassination plot conspired by two of his eunuchs. It's not like Mordecai had a problem with any other of the king's commands. But he did have a problem with obeisance to Haman. And that's because unlike the benevolent ruler King Ahasuerus, who was content with being respected for his authority, tinpot dictator Haman insisted on being worshipped. And Mordecai reserves his worship, reserves his highest allegiance...for God alone.
Haman, like all authoritarians throughout history, can't handle being in second place, and so he has a problem. Mordecai's rebellion, like Queen Vashti's rebellion from last week, could spread to all the God-worshippers, and from there, to the general population. This must be stopped in the bud, and Haman advises King Ahasuerus to kill ALL the Jews in Persia, all the God-worshippers whose allegiance cannot be trusted. The Pur is cast and comes up October 7th, I mean Adar 13th, and the timing of the pogrom is set by royal decree.
Mordecai reacts to the decree by tearing his clothes, wearing sackcloth and ashes, and lamenting publicly in the city. This is both an announcement of the desire to repent, and a cry for God's help. It is Mordecai's humble willingness to accept blame for the situation, either personally or on behalf of his people, and a request for forgiveness. But it does not include submission to Haman.
Who is insisting on OUR worship these days, a worship we should reserve for God alone? Who can't handle being in second place on our list of allegiances? There is an authoritarian element in our society, which sometimes operates through the channels of government, and sometimes through the channels of public opinion. And they have no tolerance for Christians who do not show enthusiastic tolerance for their causes. This element was on full display most dramatically during the covid lockdown of 2020, where pastors who rebelled and held worship services had to be stopped in the bud with fines and prosecution, before the rebellion could spread to all the Jesus-worshippers. And as the authoritarian element gets stronger in our society, expect more instances where if we refuse to go along to get along, the verdict will be that it is not appropriate to tolerate us. Will WE then succumb to the temptation to submit?
Mordecai remained true to God, and God provided a potential way of escape. Four years prior to the royal decree of genocide, God promoted a pawn to a queen on the chessboard of the Persian court – maybe Esther could avert the catastrophe. And God gave to Esther two qualities to maximize her chances.
First, God gave Esther humility. You could expect that after spending four years as the de facto second wealthiest and most powerful person on earth, and THE most beautiful woman, Esther might have developed an attitude. But Instagram did not yet exist, so that is not the case. Esther listened, as Mordecai reminded her that her queenship might have been arranged by God specifically for this moment. And instead of reacting like a superhero - “I got this!” - she asked for a three day city-wide fast, in the hopes of convincing God to help her.
Second, God gave Esther courage. After four years, the honeymoon between King Ahasuerus and Esther was over. Ahasuerus was busy with his concubines, and Esther had not been summoned for thirty days – how would he react to her appeal? And that was if she could get his attention. To bother the king in his inner court risked a death sentence. And Esther was given the courage to take that risk.
In granting humility and courage to Esther in the Old Testament, God foreshadows the even greater display of humility and courage in the New Testament. God's son Jesus was humble enough to empty himself of his equality with God, and be incarnated as a lowly human being in a cattle shed. And God's son Jesus was courageous enough to not only risk a death sentence, but willingly submit to a death sentence on the cross, to avert the catastrophe of the consequences of OUR sinfulness. Humanity will NOT suffer a species-ocide at God's hand, because through Jesus Christ, God has reconciled us to himself, and adopted us as his children.
What catastrophes in OUR lives can humility and courage minimize or avert? Almost all of them! How do you break an addiction? With the humility to place all of your decisions in God's hands instead of your own, and the courage to endure whatever is necessary. How do you repair a marriage? With the humility to accept blame and ask for forgiveness, and the courage to forgive. How do you grow a shrinking church? With the humility to stop doing things that are comfortable but not effective, and the courage to try things that are new. How do you face a terminal diagnosis in your family? With the humility to lean into God's comfort with a sense of trust, and the courage to look forward to the life of resurrection ahead. Of all the ways that God could make us more Christ-like, none would be more important or beneficial that to strengthen our humility and courage.
Gracious God, please do this, for our sake, and the sake of your kingdom. Help us better reflect your Son's character in the world around us, in Jesus' name....