Could it be that Haman or someone close to him blocked the reward of Mordecai?
Esther 6:1-14
There is more to this I guess.
Today's text is a struggle of honour with the enemy.
Esther 6:1 NIV
That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.
Only one thing made the king not sleep, the delayed honour of Mordecai. God's timing we say is the best and it's TRUE.
Proverbs 21:1 NIV
In the Lord's hand, the king's heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him.
King Ahasuerus or Xerces is a king of kings and lord of lords. So you can imagine how powerful he is. But he couldn't sleep despite all the babes around him to calm down his nerves, despite the pool of water so soothing with spices, despite the balanced diet he eats and the list goes on and on,,,
Why? Because there is a God in heaven called Jehovah. Some of us sometimes and once a while might not find sleep. The question is what do you do in such time? Do you on your TV and watch Nollywood? Telemundo? Football? Play Games? Big Brother Nigeria?
King Xerces decided to make his inability to sleep useful by looking at books. Well for you and me we have only one Book of Records called the Bible. Whenever you not finding sleep, meditate on the Word of God. I have found this to be 100% effective and rewarding.
Esther 6:2 NIV
It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
It was fond of Mordecai a Jew who normally should be part of the conspiracy, but he chose to save the kings life. This incident wasn't 100yrs ago that we would say it's that historic. The same king was still alive and so also the man who saved his life. It will be a shame to the throne if king Xerxes was killed in this manner. A whole king of kings and lord of lords?
What are you recording today my brother and sister?
What seed are you sowing today or sown yesterday?
We all reap what we sow
Esther 6:3 NIV
“What honour and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
The king was like, someone like this should get honoured greatly. But alas no honour or recognition was done for him. He still sat in a lowly king gate position. Meanwhile, people like Haman have been promoted above the Princes in the Kingdom. You know some people know how to sing their praises while some are very humble and just say we are doing it for God. The latter is like Mordecai, don't even want people to notice him for doing such a great thing. He is not a reward seeker.
Reward seekers will trample other people to get rewards. And when they're not recognized they put up a sad or fighting attitude. These are people with Haman DNA.
Are you of Haman DNA in your church, society or workplace?
If yes then pride, backbiting, envy, jealousy and hatred lives in you. It's time you repent and do things for the sake of love rather than to be noticed. Do not speak for yourself but let your light speak for you.
Matthew 5:16 NIV
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
It's your light that will speak for you, not you. Mordecai's lights spoke for him and shined on the king so that he will not sleep. Alas, the King is going to reward him.
Esther 6:4 NIV
The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
Next for the King is to ask of the official in the Court.
Lo and behold, it was Haman. "A coincidence? Not at all". It's time for Mordecai to be honoured and next who stands is his chief enemy. Now you can see that Haman is ordered by Satan the Dragon. The king wants to honour him, but Haman is there to take away the honour before it gets to Mordecai. Here is why we need to pray steadfastly. Satan is always lurking close to sense our time of blessings. His one goal is so that God doesn't honour us.
Imagine a panel was to seat on the result of your interview and just one of them says never and vetoes the employment. These things happen.
But imagine God going ahead of you and delaying such person in traffic or make them incapacitated to attend? So it comes down to how you live your life. You cannot be walking in sin and expect God to go ahead of you always. Holiness is needed.
Mordecai walked in Holiness. It's this simple
Haman wasn't the official on duty and the king is not conversant with the timetable, so he asked for the official on duty.
Behold Satan is always on duty.
1 Peter 5:8 NIV
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
He doesn't follow timetables. When you think you should relax, all is smooth, it is when he could strike.
Haman we know was there purposely by Satan to defeat the plans of God.
Esther 6:5 NIV
His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered.
The availability of the enemy is nothing to God.
Fear not Jesus says.
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
No matter the presence of Satan during a panel making decisions about you, God is in control. I have heard of a manager who chose not to promote an employee because of his Holy holy attitude. This employee worked years and years in the company with a good attitude nevertheless.
One day, the owner of the company like King Xerxes did open his book of remembrance. Guess what happened. Do you want to know how his story went? The owner of the company didn't promote him though. He was expecting a promotion but he didn't get one. The owner gave him an offer that broke him down in tears.
“I want you to be my partner in this company,” he said. I have studied you for a long time and realised that you are very consistent. I just need someone who can keep my interest while I am away. So I am giving you 50% of this company.
So that's how in a moment he went from being an employee to an employer. The manager who refused his promotion now answer him as boss.
There is a book of records for all we do.
It might not mean anything to you but someone is watching you. Mordecai exposed a conspiracy that saved the life of the king and kept quiet about it. He didn't go to town, blowing his trumpet everywhere. I believe he didn't even do it for reward. He saw it as a service to God and the king.
We must learn from this character and learn to stop blowing our trumpets. We give to the pastor we announce, we help people we announce, we fasted and prayed for the Church we add it to our testimony. Every service we render, we tag a demand to it. We must learn to carry out our duties to God without a reward mentality. It is certain that the day the book of records will be opened on our behalf, we will be rewarded in no small measure.
Reward mentality would lead to a mental disease.
Afterwards, Mordecai returned to his post. They say, "I get am before no be property". Don't continue to live in past glory. A change of status should not change your character. Mordecai became a rich gatekeeper. He wasn't puffed up suddenly. God expects us not to be proud when He changes our level.
Esther 6:6 NIV
When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honour?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honour than me?”
The king asked a simple question from Haman and alas pride sets in. Who else should the king honour if not me?
Do you guys know how financially I have made the king prospered this year with all the taxes raised to do ethnic cleansing? Though we see pride at play, Haman has done a great job serving the King. But here is the problem: he is a reward seeker and people like him always end up in destruction. He didn't even know to what intent the king was speaking and he jumped the gun. Reward in everything was his default mode.
God is God. He will allow your enemies to jump ahead to favour you.
Imagine you are a very beautiful lady and you think it's you that guy will toast and not your friend. So he says hello ladies and you quickly answer before everyone, because you think you deserve the guy for your beauty. Na me fine pass. And it's true that you are the finest no doubt.
But the guy says sorry not you but her. This kind thing dey humble person.
Esther 6:7-9 NIV
So he answered the king, “For the man, the king delights to honour, [8] have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. [9] Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king's most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honour and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, 'This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour!”
It has been said that the four cardinal points of a selfish man are: Me, I, Mine and Myself
Look at the description by Haman. I'm sure if he knew he wasn't the one, he will just give one short sentence. But here, he was very detailed.
If you are called to honour someone else how do react? How large is your heart in detail knowing that it's not coming to you anyways but to another person? You have been told to pray for someone? Yes, you did. But is that how you pray for yourself?
A royal robe the king has worn.
A royal horse the king has ridden.
Hello, is this not like making the person a king?
Haman even said let one of the princes lead him through the streets. This he said so that one of the princes he is above might be the one to lead him, even Haman riding on the horse with the robe.
His goal is to ridicule his rivals...
Esther 6:10 NIV
“Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
Hahaha!!! Haman was shocked by this one.
Go do it for Mordecai the Jew who seats in a lowly position. Every detail you have given let it be done.
Please note Mordecai has not been rewarded. This is just a sample of whom the king wants to honour. It's not the honour. Yes, the king wants to honour Mordecai but this display is an announcement of the honour, not the honour itself.
Esther 6:11 NIV
So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honour!”
So Haman did so and he led Mordecai through the streets as a sample of who the King delights to honour. What a shame for Haman because he is forced to recognize the prowess of his enemy Mordecai
Esther 6:12 NIV
Afterwards, Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief,
Of course, Haman has to return to his gate because what was done it's not an honour but a display of honour. If it was an honour it's impossible for him to return back his lowly gate life.
The honour is coming. Be Patient one more day Mordecai.
Sometimes it looks like we have gotten it but behold we get discouraged because it's not what we thought. God knows what He is doing. Haman wasn't on duty in the court so it's easy for him to go back home.
Mordecai was on duty at the gate so he went back to his post.
For all things works together (the good, the bad and the ugly) for good of them that trust God.
This is a big shame to Haman.
If it was someone else he might not really mind but this is Mordecai the Jew. It's his wicked heart that led him to the palace on a day he's not on duty, if not it could have been another prince that would have executed the show of honour for Mordecai.
Anyone who delights in mischief, being where he/she is not required is a wandering star, and they usually end destroying themselves as it's written in Jude 13
They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
Psalm 23:5 AMP,
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.
Your enemies will witness your raising in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
To be continued...
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