Through Imperfect People

Through Imperfect People

Words of Faith 5-28-2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2008, 2021

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

www.faithfellowshipweb.com

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 Esther 2

      [8] When the king's order and edict had been proclaimed, many girls 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. [9] The girl pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven maids selected from the king's palace and moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.  [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.

      So the King was looking for a new bride because his anger cost him his wife.  Many young girls were being considered and suddenly Esther was among them.  What is wrong with this picture?  The thing wrong is that a Jewish girl should never be offered in marriage to a heathen!  Do you remember how severe Ezra and Nehemiah were on this issue of intermarriage?  (Ezra 9:1-4, 14; 10:3, 11; 18-44; Neh. 10:30; 13:23-27)  There was no threat yet evident from Haman. What possible reason could Mordecai have had to offer Esther into this contest to become queen?  Some have suggested that Esther was "taken" by force, but Mordecai shows too much interest in the whole thing as he paces in the courtyard of the harem. 

       The reality is that Mordecai probably had an ambitious political and social agenda.  He was willing to sell out regarding a fundamental tenet of Judaism as long as it allowed for a connection in high places.   We have heard no directive from God to do such a thing.   Esther also seems to participate freely in the plan.  What are we to make of all this?

        Often we assume that to be a Bible hero, one must be perfect in behavior and motivation.  While this would be nice, it is not the reality of the human condition.  The truth is that God often works through imperfect people with imperfect motives.  Moses was a murderer running from the law when he ran into God.  Abraham heard God clearly, but when danger was around, he had trouble remembering whether Sarah was his wife or his sister.  Isaac played favorites and Jacob was just a plain old con man.  So why should it surprise us if Mordecai and perhaps even Esther were ruthlessly ambitious?

        Offering Esther for marriage to a heathen King for the purposes of social ladder climbing does not endear Mordecai to us.  But God was still very much at work.  God is sovereign even in the political malaise that permeates so much of our human strivings.  God is at work.  Even in situations where people are ruthlessly political, God is at work.

         Is there a situation around you that you do not understand?  Are there political undercurrents that do not seem at all to be of God?  Is there a motivation that seems ruthlessly ambitious?  Do not despair.  God is still at work.  Quietly.  His name is not even mentioned here but He is at work in all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

        Lord help me to see You at work today.  Even more, help me to trust You to work in the places that I cannot see You.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.    

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2008, 2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.