Esther- Mordecai Refuses to Follow the Crowd

By Mary Vee
Esther 3

From Mordecai's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Mordecai. 

My daughter, what I mean is the girl I raised as my daughter after her parent's died, has become the queen.

Imagine that!

Her name is Esther, and we are Jews. That is the amazing part. The king doesn't know she was born a Jew. I counseled her not to tell anyone in the palace--for her safety. 

Jews were brought here as slaves a long time ago. Who knows, maybe she needed to be herself for this time. God will tell us if and when she needs to step forward and proclaim her heritage.

The big news at the city gate, where the men come to discuss topics of interest, is Haman, son of Hammedatha. Yesterday, King Xerxes promoted Haman, giving him a seat of honor higher than all the other nobles. 

I don't know very much about this man yet, but I pray he will be someone who will serve the king.

This morning I went to the gate and sat, waiting for today's discussion to begin. We were in the middle of a very interesting topic when someone approached from inside the gate. We turned and saw a man whom I presumed to be Haman. 

He had on a fancy robe and paraded through the crowds with his chin lifted high in the air. The people bowed and said words like, "my lord," and "Your lordship." 

I had determined long ago to worship only God and Him only would I serve. This meant I would not bow down or honor anyone but the almighty God. Needless to say I did not bow when Haman went past, neither did I say "my lord," or any thing like that.

This apparently did not make Haman happy. He sent an official to talk to me. 

"What is your name?" the official asked.

I told him. He left right away to report my name to Haman. Two other royal officials walked up to me and asked, "Why do you disobey the king's command?"

I answered, "I am a Jew and can only bow before the Almighty God."

Day after day Haman rode through the gate. Day after day the men bowed to him. I did not. Day after day the officials asked why I refused to bow to Haman. AND day after day I said "I am a Jew and can only bow before the Almighty God." I thought their questions were annoying, but I never tired from saying my answer.

...come back to read what happens next.

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sources: New International Version, New King James Version  

1. What did the people at the gate do when Haman road past?
2. Why?
3. What did Mordecai do when Haman road past?
4. Why?