the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 2 of 5
Esther 3:1-15
A new character now comes on the scene, Haman the Agagite. The influence of this seductive figure upon weak Ahasuerus soon raises him to the height of power. But let us unmask Haman! We are dealing here with a member of the Amalekite royal family. Mordecai could never bow to such a man. Had not God solemnly declared from the outset in the wilderness, "The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation" (Exodus 17:16), and later "Remember what Amalek did unto thee . . . thou shalt not forget it" (Deuteronomy 25:17-19)? This is enough to prevent the faithful Israelite from showing the least deference to an enemy of the LORD. The centuries which have passed since these divine statements were made have not lessened their force in any way. For our part, let us not be more tolerant of the world and its prince than were the first Christians.
From a human viewpoint, Mordecai’s attitude seems dangerously foolish. And the consequences, not only for him but for all his people, are terrible, out of all proportion to the fault being dealt with. Yet Mordecai, without prior heed to the consequences, obeyed the Word, and that is what we should always do.
