Dr. Goodluck Ofoegbu Prof. Oby Ofoegbu Banking Blessings Ministry San Antonio, Texas USA
What We Will Learn Two-part study Mordecai lived through and triumphed over adversity Part 1: Mordecai s living in adversity Who was Mordecai What was his adversity How did he live with adversity? Part 2: Mordecai triumphs over adversity Esther 1 9
Introducing Mordecai Among Jews carried into exile in Babylon King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar defeated Judah and took plunder and captives Lived as captive for a long time Through the time of King Xerxes Appears to have worked at times as watch man or attendant at the kings gate Daniel 1:1 2 Esther 1:1 2 and 2:5 6
Daniel 1 (NIV) 1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.
Esther 1 (NIV) 1 This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush: 2 At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa,
Esther 2 (NIV) 5 Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, 6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah.
Mordecai s Adversity Lived in captivity Appears to have lived in poverty At times worked as attendant or watch man at king s gate Endured conspiracy and threat of annihilation against his people
Mordecai Copes with Adversity Worshiped and served God Raised uncle s orphan daughter as his Reported assassination threat against king Refused to worship agent of the king under threat of execution
Mordecai and Esther Esther was daughter of Mordecai uncle Esther s parents died Mordecai raised Esther as his daughter Advised Esther to enter contest to replace deposed queen Esther 1 2
King Xerxes Dismisses Queen Dismissal of Queen Vashti setup opportunity for Mordecai s cousin, Esther Queen Vashti refused King Xerxes order To display herself at king s banquette Given to mark end of 6 months celebration Her queenship was terminated To preserve respect for husbands Esther 1:4 5, 9 12, 13, 15, and 19
Esther 1 (NIV) 4 For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. 5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa.
Esther 1 (NIV) 9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes. 10 On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him 11 to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.
Esther 1 (NIV) 12 But when the attendants delivered the king s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.
Esther 1 (NIV) 13 Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times 15 According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti? he asked. She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.
Esther 1 (NIV) 19 Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.
Mordecai s Cousin Wins Queen Contest Mordecai recognized opportunity for Esther in the contest to replace Vashti Esther joins contest to become queen Chosen from among several women that entered the contest On Mordecai s advice, she did not reveal her nationality or family history Esther 2:3 4, 7 11 and 15 17
Esther 2 (NIV) 3 Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them.
Esther 2 (NIV) 4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.
Esther 2 (NIV) 7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.
Esther 2 (NIV) 8 When the king s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem.
Esther 2 (NIV) 9 She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.
Esther 2 (NIV) 10 Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so. 11 Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.
Esther 2 (NIV) 15 When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.
Esther 2 (NIV) 16 She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. 17 Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Mordecai Uncovers Plot to Assassinate King Assassination plot against the king setup opportunity for Mordecai Two gate keepers plotted to assassinate king Mordecai reports plot through Queen Esther Plotters were executed Report documented with credit to Mordecai Esther 2:21 23
Esther 2 (NIV) 21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai.
Esther 2 (NIV) 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.
Mordecai Refuses to Worship King s Agent Haman King promoted Haman to high position Decreed that every person kneel before Haman in honor Mordecai refused The decreed gesture connotes worship Mordecai worshiped God Esther 3:1 5
Esther 3 (NIV) 1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.
Esther 3 (NIV) 3 Then the royal officials at the king s gate asked Mordecai, Why do you disobey the king s command? 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.
Esther 3 (NIV) 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.
What We Learned Mordecai still lived in captivity and poverty Was not aware he had completed three actions toward ending his adversity Esther became queen Mordecai earned king s credit for helping foil the assassination plot Mordecai refused to worship Haman These actions show Mordecai lived according to pledge to worship and serve God
Mordecai Worshiped and Served God Cared for Esther as his daughter God s provider assistant Sensitive to needs of others Kindred responsibility Reported assassination plot against king Provider assistant (sensitive to other s needs) Care and respect for authority Refused to worship other god
What We Learned cont d Worship and serve God even in adversity Then God will be your God And will fight your battles All your battles, irrespective of type, size, or severity Lesson of David killing Goliath Mordecai was placed on path to defeating his adversity because he worshiped and served God even in adversity