Esther and Mordecai

… And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this (Est 4:14).

As Christians and Adventists we have tended to dismiss those Jews who did not return to Israel at the end of the exile as perhaps being lost - cut off from the remnant. Well Esther and Mordecai were Jews who didn’t return at the end of the exile. Mordecai (Est 4:14) expresses a faith so tentative that he is unable to see that God might know; and yet it seems that God still has His purposes for him, for such a time as this. God despite the most oppressive circumstances, doesn't change, we too are born for such a time as this.

Overview of Lesson 6: Esther and Mordecai

Karakia Timatanga | Opening Prayer

He hōnore, he korōria ki te atua
All honour and glory to our maker

He maungārongo ki te whenua
Let there be peace and tranquillity on earth

He whakaaro pai ki ngā tangata katoa
Goodwill to mankind
Āmine.                                  
Amen

(Commentary on: Sabbath School Org. Lesson 6)

Saturday | Sabbath | Hātarei

Esther is the only book of the Bible that has no mention of the name of God in it. It is also the only Old Testament book for which no fragments were discovered in the caves at Qumran (Bolen, 2012). The king in this story, Ahasuerus is identified as Xerxes (Mark, 2011) who is recognised by most people as the Persian king responsible for the second invasion of the Greeks and battles such as Thermopylae, Plataea and Salamis. Herodotus suggests that Xerxes did not have a good reputation with women. If we are looking for good people in the book of Esther you can rule out the King and the genocidally inclined Haman, who is an Agagite. King Saul several hundred years prior was supposed to kill King Agag (1 Sam 15). The book of Esther leaves us wondering.

Sunday | Rātapu

Esther in Persia

Who are the good people in this book – perhaps only Queen Vashti. She is summoned to go in before the king and his guests who are in drunken party mode. She refuses. It has been suggested that the text for her appearance could have read - she refused "to appear wearing only her royal crown." (Esther, 2005).

There are some issues in the book of Esther that on reflection leave some of us Christians in a state of shock. It appears from our cultural context that Esther was immoral. 1 Cor 6:18 tells us to flee immorality. Esther wasn’t fleeing; she was definitely part of the King’s harem. Her cousin Mordecai actively encouraged this. Verse 14 of chapter two implies that she had sex with the king prior to any marriage. Let us not be so harsh to judge, the book of Esther reminds us that in this culture there were many powerless people – women, slaves, the eunuchs. The Persian king had the title – King of Kings, he held absolute power – the title we ascribe today to Jesus Christ (Rev 19:16). As the lesson points out these women were not necessarily volunteers. Some may have been willing but in Esther 2:3 coercion is evident (Evans, 2012).

Vashti to my mind is the most noble character but a couple of points need to be made. In terms of relative power she was more able to choose righteously because she was in a better social position; although still risky to say no, she was still queen. However, sometimes very good people do not have the qualities or characteristics to carry out a particular task that God needs carried out. Vashti could never have saved the Jews. In this case the person God needed to use was Esther.

From ancient history there can be an element of uncertainty as to which characters are which and who did what. Herodotus tells us that one of Xerxes Queen’s was responsible for mutilating another woman whom Xerxes was wanting to have an affair with (Mark, 2011). Was this Vashti, Esther or some other queen? The other woman had been beautiful. Her demise was based on the Queen's understandable but vitriolic jealousy.

Monday | Rāhina 

Esther in the Court of the King

Perhaps there are times when it is wise for God’s people to be prudent in hiding nationality and religious affiliation. If life is important, it was a good idea to hide your nationality and religious affiliation in Nazi Germany. It seems that this is the example of the book of Esther. Transparency is ideal, but for many people, what you say, how you say it and when you say it is critical, especially if people already have a negative stereotype formed. Effective communication often is based upon credibility and relationship, and this can take time to build. The blundering Christian who tactlessly and arrogantly pronounces faith based statements to those they live and work with can build up walls of alienation that may not easily be repaired.

Jesus was careful in what he taught, when he taught it and what he did.

Tuesday | Rātū 

For Such a Time As This

Such a time as this, is always now, but it is in times of crisis that reveal what stuff we are really made of. In a sense we are all witnesses, our lives are ongoing testaments to what we believe or don’t. It is difficult to describe Esther and Mordecai as missionaries; they are not, they are simply Jews living in Persia. Their actions are in response to their life situations. This story is more specifically about God’s ability to save His people, imperfect as they may be. I suspect that God’s kingdom will be filled with flawed heros.

Wednesday  | Rāapa

Mordecai and Haman

The issue that emerged began with Mordecai. If ever there was a clash of cultures this was it. Herodotus explains:

When the Persians meet one another in the roads, you can see whether those who meet are of equal rank. For instead of greeting by words, they kiss each other on the mouth; but if one of them is inferior to the other, they kiss one another on the cheeks, and if one is of much less noble rank than the other, he falls down before him and worships him. (Proskynesis, 2015)

For Mordecai this was extremely offensive. On scriptural grounds he would not bow down (Ex 20:3-5). Besides this, he may not have considered Haman to be his superior, in which case it would have been simply a matter of pride. For Haman, the matter of the Jews destruction may well have been more than personal animosity, it may have been entrenched in historical hatred and based on a deep seated motive of revenge. In Esther 3:8-13 we see how morally bankrupt the king, her husband really is. On a whim he will destroy thousands of lives.

Mordecai sets a good example for us as Christians in terms of citizenship. Wherever there is no direct conflict of interest we should do all we can to support the authorities, perhaps despite their whimsical and at times evil decisions. It does not mean as Christians we have to support unethical decisions that our governments make. Mordecai and Esther were obviously doing their best to overturn a very destructive policy.

Thursday | Rāpare

When Some Gentiles Became Jews

In terms of witness what can you read into it? It’s a bit difficult to tell given the fact there is one verse. (Est 8:17). What is the motivation for conversion – personal advancement, fear? Why do people change religions in general? Perhaps there is a place for fear in conversion. Rev 14:7 is not against it – the Greek word is phobos, from which we get phobia. Jesus wasn’t against it (Lk 12:5). Perhaps we underestimate the personal catastrophe that becomes clearer at the final judgment. Est 9:16 describes the end result of the policy change that she and Mordecai have brought about. Seventy five thousand people are killed. Schantz and Thompson (2015) suggest it may have been self-defence, perhaps it was. The fact that no property was taken is significant. There were other occasions when God’s people went to war and took no plunder – Abraham and the five kings, Joshua and Jericho. Saul lost his kingship in disobeying God in this matter and also sparing king Agag’s life.

In both this judgment and the final judgment the issues are finally determined by power. Esther is a book about politics, power and God’s people. Early in the book of Esther we see her making friends with the eunuch, Hegai (Est 2:9). In one sense, eunuchs are powerless, in a court they often hold much power. Esther treated him well and gained his favour. His favour made a difference.

Personally, I have a phobia towards judgment, especially the last one, so I’m aligning my political interests with the kingdom of heaven (Rom 8:1; Jn 12:31, 32) where I need the favour of one who can make a difference.

Considerations for practise

1. What currently is God calling you to make a difference in?
2. Under what circumstances is it acceptable to take another human life?
3. When culture's clash in religious practise is there a place for compromise and if so to what extent?
4. Should Christians be involved in politics and if so how do we go about supporting leaders who promote damaging policy? What about the politics and policy of the church?
5. Adventist eschatology and the wider evangelical emphasis on end times definitely touches a nerve. How should believers' employ and respond to fear as a mechanism for evangelism? 

References

Bolen, T. (2012, May 3). Why no Esther in the Dead Sea scrolls? BiblePlaces.com. Retrieved from http://blog.bibleplaces.com/2012/05/why-no-esther-in-dead-sea-scrolls.html

Esther. (2005). Encyclopedia of World Biography.  Retrieved from Encyclopedia.com:http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3446400066.html

Evans, R. (2012, October 1). Esther actually: What happens in the harem .... Retrieved from http://rachelheldevans.com/blog/esther-actually-harem

Mark, J. (2011, April 28). Xerxes I. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.ancient.eu/Xerxes_I/

Schantz, B. & Thompson, S. (2015). Biblical Missionaries. Adult Sabbath School Quarterly 3Q. 2015. Silver Spring: MD: Pacific Press.

Proskynesis. (2015). Livius.org.  Retrieved from http://www.livius.org/articles/concept/proskynesis/