March 9 Unafraid

Esther 5:9-10 And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. 
 
DO you wonder a bit about Mordecai? His failure to bow before Haman has caused Haman to issue an extermination decree against all Jews. But here Mordecai continues to refuse to bow to the man. Shouldn’t he give in a little just this once to perhaps change Haman’s evil heart?
    Let’s look at it this way: Should Jesus have bowed before Satan just once in order to get some food and to reign over the kingdoms of the earth (Luke 4)? The obvious answer is, “No. The Son of God could never bow to Satan. He would disobey his own Word. In such sin, he could not be our Savior.” Surely, Satan would then require more and more of Jesus, wouldn’t he? Evil is never satisfied.
    That is why Mordecai’s refusal to bow to Haman is a beautiful example of faith. Mordecai knew of Haman’s evil heart. He also knew he had instructed Esther to go in the Lord’s power to resist Haman’s evil plot. Any deference to Haman would be Mordecai’s confession, “I don’t trust God enough. I’m sure he needs my help to fix this mess.”
    We can be tempted to “bow down” to sin and its “shortcuts” in times of stress. But don’t do it. Sin is never satisfied. As you yield to sin, it consumes you with an increasing appetite. Turn from God a little, and you’ll find it easier to turn from God often. And soon you are lost, afraid, and alone in the desert of despair.
    Mordecai was in the darkest hour of his life. But he did not yield to darkness. He stayed in the light. He trusted his sovereign God to act against evil.
 
Prayer: Keep me steadily focused on you, Father. In the darkness, give me eyes only for the light of your salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.