The Mercy and Movement of God

"Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother..."
Esther 2:7a

The biblical account of Esther is stirring on many levels for it overflows with God's mercy and movement. The story candidly reveals that humanity is not without the Lord's affection, nor are we ever apart from His divine aid and authority. God's command over earthly affairs is undeniable. He masterfully orchestrates events and people to accomplish His glorious will. In Esther, the Lord's will was for the Jewish people in Susa and abroad to circumvent a pending onslaught. And to confirm that nothing is impossible for Him God key's agent to carry out this incredible plan was the most powerful, and thereby the most unapproachable, leader in the world at the time: King Xerxes. 

The overarching theme of Esther reveals God's ability to utilize seemingly insignificant and unrelated events together in harmonious fashion. A eunuch's liking of Esther yielded a comfortable stay in the palace, as well as invaluable insight into Xerxes' preferences, which was pivotal in Xerxes' choosing of Esther to become queen. Mordecai's promotion as a palace official, and his reporting of an assassination plot against the king, proved to be instrumental in earning favor with Xerxes. And the king's incapacity to find sleep the night before Haman intended to kill Mordecai affirms God's wisdom, power, and incomparable skill in drawing circumstances together to accomplish His ultimate desire. 

The narrative in Esther provides so many fascinating considerations regarding its prime characters. Persia's king, Xerses, was a prideful man. He was prone to fits of irrational anger, deception, racism, and wholly unwise counsel. But in the end, he perceived the unseen, but very undeniably real, hand of God at work. Esther, otherwise known as Hadassah, was an adopted child who went from obscurity to royalty. Her willingness to risk her fate to save Jewish people was noble, brave, and epic. Mordecai, a God-fearing man, was shown to be a man of integrity, faith, and courage. And his devotion to upholding loyalty and allegiance to God, despite pressure to abandon Hebrew traditions in a pagan land, was truly courageous. 

And it is Mordecai who I want to consider in greater detail. Esther 2:7 states that Mordecai took Esther into his own home, and welcomed her as if she were his child after the death of Esther's parents. I find this to be highly exceptional, and speaks to Mordecai's sensitivity's to Esther's loss, as well as his innate sense of compassion. Furthermore, Mordecai's adopting of Esther was not for personal gain, nor was it generated by an ulterior motive. It was rooted in love. Mordecai was willing to absorb additional emotional and financial responsibilities in order to ensure that Esther, his cousin, would be raised in a setting where she was adequately cared for, and made aware of God's power and presence. And little could he know that when he opened the doors of his house to Esther how crucial this act of kindness would be for the betterment and preservation of the Hebrew people.

How many opportunities do we have every day to to extend goodness and love to others around us? And how many times do we let those opportunities pass right by us without opting to engage the heart and character of God? Very little is written about Mordecai in Scripture, but what information is provided validates that Mordecai was not only attune to the mercy and movement of the Lord, but he was eager to channel it in the community. I have mentioned in previous blog postings that an open heart leads to an obedient heart. Perhaps we could add that an obedient heart, in turn, helps foster open hands, and, when needed, an open home.