A Book of Remembrance

Yesterday we looked at the story of Esther and the favour that she found with the king. Today we will look at how God also allowed her uncle Mordecai to find favour because he refused to bow to Haman. Haman was promoted by the King and all the King’s men who served at the gate would bow down and pay homage to Haman. Now Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman because his relationship with God forbade him to bow to any other man or God. Haman was angry at Mordecai for this and determined to destroy not only Mordecai, but all of the Jews who served God.

Earlier in chapter 2, Mordecai discovered a plot against the King’s life and told Esther who told the King in Mordecai’s name. The matter was investigated and the men punished and this was recorded in the book of the chronicles. When Mordecai let Esther know of Haman’s plot, she called a fast. It turned out that on the first day of the fast, the King was unable to sleep. The King asked for the book of the chronicles to be brought and read to him. The deed which Mordecai had done was read and the King was concerned that nothing had been done to honour Mordecai for saving his life.

While the King was considering Mordecai’s good deeds, Haman had gallows built to hang Mordecai because he refused to bow to him. To his surprise when he went to see the King to ask for Mordecai to be hanged, the King had an entirely different plan. The King asked Haman for suggestions of what he could do to honour a noble man. Haman thinking that the King wanted to honour him suggested that the King have the man paraded on horseback through the street. “let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set” (Esther 6:8). The King commanded that Haman would do everything that he had described for Mordecai.

Imagine Haman’s confusion and frustration, when the King sought to honour Mordecai who he wanted to kill? God used Mordecai’s enemy to bring great honour to him. Because of the prayers of the saints, the King could not sleep as God brought to his attention what Mordecai had done. Our good deeds will not be forgotten and God will disturb the sleep of those in authority until they bring honour to us. No good deed will go unnoticed and at the correct time, God will cause you to have uncommon favour. He will bless you and establish you in the presence of your enemies.

There is a book of remembrance in heaven, in which is recorded all that you have done for the establishment of the kingdom of God. God will bring honour to his children who refuse to bow down to the kings of this world. There are many of God’s people who daily refuse to compromise and who continue to stand up for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Persecution can cause you to feel forgotten and forsaken. God has not forgotten your labour of love. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬).

A.P.-Y.