The intoxication of Power

Esther 3:

1. After these things did the king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammadaatha the Agagite and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him

2. And all the king’s servants that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not nor did him reverence

3. Then the king’s servants, which were in the king’s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why trangressest thou the king’s commandment?

4. Now it came to pass, when they spake unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai’s matter would stand: for he told them that he was a Jew

5. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath

6. And he thought it scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had showed him the people of Mordecai.

 

The story of Esther reads like an eternal classic, an evergreen masterpiece that refreshes the faith of the wayfarers. It has strange and sudden twists of plots but with a clear thematic message of God’s provisions and preservation in threatening destruction. Isaiah confirms that the Lord is the present help in time of trouble. The book of Number says also that if God speaks, He’ll do it and that if He promises, He’ll make it good (23:19). Yet, this book’s irony is that it never mentions the name of the Lord for once, though the message is clear.

The story has just introduced another new major character into the plot: Haman, the son of Hammadaatha the Agagite. Another word for Agagite is Ammonite. Saul, the first Israel’s king in the ancient past was assigned to destroy all of Ammonites, including their king, Agag. But Israel’s king made a bad job of it. Perhaps, if he completely obeyed the divine instruction, perhaps there would never have been a Haman in existent to want to unleash his anger on the people of Israel in Persia and Media kingdom where the two races are now holed up together. Now, after a couple of centuries, an Agagite is inclusively in power while a Jew is in the gate of the king. An Agagite is the Prime Minister, he’s above all the other princes; he can walk up to the king and discuss; a Jew is a servant, he’s at the gate of the king, far away from where the real power resides.

Why doesn’t Mordecai want to honour Mordecai? Is he reacting from his knowledge of history? Not unlikely. However, Mordecai is so concerned about the tradition of being faithful to the Law. Bowing down to man, to him, is idolatry. It’s bad enough that the entire nation of Israel is serving in captivity right now because of disobedience of their fathers to God by worshipping idols. Now, this! There’s always the unconsciously regarding anything that is man’s authority with contempt. Mordecai may not have disdained Haman as a man but he certainly despises human power!

Man is not only excited and fascinated but always intoxicated by power. The world is a place of fleshly thrills of glory of power. Man seeks power for what it can do – it’s full of thrills and frills. The training of man lets him know that he’s to seek these thrills, these frills and beauty. This is the reason for his being; to come to the world and display glory and power. He wilfully kills to obtain it. This is the story of the world. In our world today, there’s the glory of the possession of human manufactures, the glory of intelligence, the glory of achievements. Glory is power, power is glory; the two are interchangable. But all are “glory terrestrial.  “……but the glory of the celestial is one, and the the glory of the terrestrial is another…” (1Corinthians15:40).

Haman has come to a super glory: “…. the king Ahasuerus promote Haman….”. It commands glory; it shines in the firmament of men. He’s to be worshipped. It’s not ordinary that in Indian, for example, man has isolated over three hundred million gods; these were said to have attained the status of Avatar, a dizzy height impossible for ordinary man. In Africa, these beings, transformed to gods and goddesses, killed and destroyed anyone who failed to respond to the light of their glory and power. Haman has been elevated and the accompanying glory must be honoured. Haman,like Ahasuerus, is God! God is meant to be worshipped. But Mordecai who’s from another upbringing which is completely out of this world is not impressed. He’s not ready to worship.

Mordecai doesn’t say to himself: “I’m not going to bow nor reverence this man.” He just can’t help it to be different and be conscious that he’s of another kingdom, even though he’s in the Persia and Media kingdom! He is unable to blend and play a role in the kingdom where he’s physically present. The likes of Mordecai are bound to always run into troubles for they’re men who choose to ” rather suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater treasures…..by faith, he forsook….. for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:25-27). This lets me into the answer of the sufferings of the saints in the world. It’s not as if they want to appear different or separate. They can’t help it not to be different; they can’t help it not to despise all the world has to offer. They simply want to be the satisfaction of the Lord. This desire always come in conflict with the values of the world – and this is an offensive thing to do. And the offended lord of the earth will stir the fury of hell for them. “These were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted….slain with sword…..(of whom the world was not worthy:) …” (Hebrews 11:37-38).

However, the saints of today have traded the goodly commitment and have joined the world to clamour for the power and glory of the terrestrial; there’s no resistant against worshipping of idols. They’ve actually synchronized the worship of the true God with the gods of the world in their new evolving prayer and mindset We’ve come a long way from those whom Christ will like to comfort by His Holy Spirit, “Cheer up, I have over come the world.” The saint is gradually jettisoning the exhortation of the Spirit through the pen of John, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world….. For all that is in the world, the lost of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the PRIDE of LIFE, is not of the Father, but of the world” (1John2:15-16).

Lord, here’s my hand. Hold it tight. Let me know how to allow You to hold on to me and not me to You. For when I hold on to You, I’ll let go soon out of exhaustion. But when you do my hand hold, I can’t be drawn away by the glory and power of the world, nor anything the world has to offer, nor be moved to fear by what the world can do to me. I don’t go out of my way to court troubles, but if You hold me to Yourself, I will not avoid afflictions but I cannot be drawn away by another power nor can I fear what the evil one can do to me.

Haman decides to not deal with a vermin called Mordecai but with all the members of his race – to destroy them from the surface of the earth. I love that Lord, for when I’m weak then I’m strong; Your grace is sufficient for Your strength is made perfect by my weakness (2Corinthians 12:9-10).

Thank You Lord.