Are you in a feud? Many times people find themselves in a feud with others and they just cannot seem to resolve it. Are you in that position? Who are you in a feud with? What is the feud all about?
Well, you are not alone. The Bible too is filled with many stories of people who were in feuds with others. Do you know of any of those people and their stories and how their feuds were resolved?
Here is one of those stories and how we can learn from it. It is found in the Book of Esther. In Chapter 3, we learn that there was a feud between Mordecai and a man named Haman who was one of the King’s ministers. Mordecai, being a Jew, did not bow down before Haman and give Haman the respect that Haman thought he deserved. So, Haman became enraged and conspired to have Mordecai and his people killed. Haman formulated a plan. He decided that the only way to avenge his honour, and to assure that he received the respect he felt he deserved, was to arrange for the execution of all of the Jews in the kingdom.
Haman set his plan into motion. He consulted advisors and casted lots to determine when the destruction of the Jews would take place. The date was set for about 11 months later. Haman then convinced the King that a “certain people” in his kingdom had different laws than the other people, and that they did not keep the King’s laws, therefore they should be destroyed. The King, anxious to eliminate any rebellion against him, agreed. A decree – written by Haman in the name of the King – went out. Every region was sent the message that on that specific day, the Jews would be annihilated, both young and old, little children and women, and that their possessions would be plundered. The law was written as an irrevocable command; not even the King could have revoked it.
When Mordecai learnt of the plot, he rented his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry. In every province where the command was given, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing, and many laid in sackcloth and ashes. Mordecai sent a copy of the decree to his cousin, Queen Esther, to inform her what had happened and told her to go to the King and plead with him on their behalf to save their people. This request was made to bring about a resolution, but Esther sent a response to Mordecai with these words: “Anyone who goes in to see the King without being summoned will be put to death; it’s the law.” Only if the King calls, may you approach him. Without being sent for, I am in mortal danger. Only if the King extends his golden scepter as a sign, that I am welcome, will I live. She was terribly fearful.
Esther’s response is a lot like ours. We tend to think of the obstacles in reaching our goals rather than the importance of the goals themselves. We tend to think of the risks and costs to ourselves, and often we stop right there. To attempt to save her people she would have to risk her life twice. The first risk would be announcing that she was Jewish. This would immediately put her on the death list. The second risk, appearing before her husband without an invitation. Can you begin to understand Esther’s apprehension? In Esther’s mind she probably felt that she was not the right person for God’s job! However, Esther exemplified the ideal qualities of a master strategist. Before she acted, she carefully weighed all the possibilities and kept her options open, timing her steps with unhurried deliberation.
You know the rest of the story. The story does not end there. Queen Esther did indeed approach the King, and he held out the golden scepter, and her life was spared. Through a series of events, Haman’s evil plot was exposed and thwarted. Mordecai was given Haman’s position and he crafted a new law, sealed by the King’s signet ring, which allowed the Jews on the day that they were to be exterminated, to kill anyone who sought their death. Haman was a pawn of Satan. All of those events were used by Satan as a way to try to wipe out the Jews and by effect the Messiah’s bloodline.
What a story! What an intriguing, thrilling and inspiring story. In the end, good conquered evil. There are many lessons we need to learn from this story.
1. God is sovereign, and nothing takes place by chance. Every event in our lives is not outside of the providence of God. The King may not have seen it, nor Haman, nor the people, nor Mordecai and Esther, but God was at work, bringing about the situation and circumstances which would be used in accomplishing His will. God is always in control. God always uses every situation in our life, every circumstance in our world, to ultimately accomplish His will. When we come to realise this, only then we can understand the scripture: “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
2. We are strategically placed wherever we are by God for a purpose. “For who knows whether YOU have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this!” We need to learn that God created each of us with a divine appointment, a unique role to fulfill in our life – just like Esther! Esther was placed in the palace for a reason. It was not a mistake. God used Esther and Mordecai to thwart Haman’s evil plan. God has you right where you are, in order to do something wonderful for His kingdom as well.
3. We must be careful of the pit we dig for others. You will get caught in the traps you set. Haman shows us what pride and arrogance and a sense of entitlement and a thirst for personal glory can lead to – humiliation and death. Haman hung on the very gallows that he built for Mordecai. We must be very careful of our actions.
4. We should dare to take big risks, as long as the expected result is worth it. Queen Esther took a big risk of going to the king without being summoned. She said, “…and if I perish, I perish.” She dared to take this risk because she knew that the benefits far outweighed the risks being taken.
Everything God does has a purpose. God uses people to carry out His plans.
The story of Mordecai and Haman is one that many of us can relate to. We all at some point in life find ourselves in feuds and people hating us. We might even find ourselves doing the hating, so we must be extremely careful when planning the demise of others. As God took care of Mordecai and Esther and the Jews, He will also take care of us.
Remember: Feuds are weeds… Once they are rooted, they are harder to dig up; and they are far easier to spread. There is no feud or dislike that cannot be healed by love.
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in The Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only and has now published Positive Living Volume 3. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. www.facebook.com/axawellnesscentre.
