The Danger of They

The Danger of They
Words of Faith 6-7-2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2008, 2021
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Esther 3
        [7] In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, they cast the pur (that is, the lot) in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

      We often wonder why bad things happen.  Natural disasters-- storms, earthquakes, floods, and fires often take life in a way that seems meaningless.  But an even more difficult question is raised when life is lost at the hands of another-- at the hands of a group or political movement.  How can such things happen?  How can one group muster enough hate to make such a decision?
       Esther relates the perplexing story of how the Persians came to such a point.  It starts in a strange way.  Our text says that "THEY" cast lots in the presence of Haman to select a day on which to have a holocaust.  Have you ever heard of anything so bizarre?  So just who is responsible for this plan of heinous killing?  "THEY" are.  And who is "THEY"?  We don't really know.  We might surmise that "THEY" were part of a popular movement but they could have also been a mob caught up in hate.   The images of crowds shouting allegiance to Hitler come to mind.  But "THEY" may have only been a few political cronies of Haman. We don't know.
        But the text raises the reality that there was a "THEY."   Some people went along with Haman's wretched and hateful plan.  "THEY" may have only approved by their silence.  But without "THEY" this terrible plan would not have been hatched.  There always is a "THEY."  And in the end "THEY" are as guilty as Haman.  "THEY" may have even attempted to distance themselves from moral responsibility by casting lots-- but "THEY" cannot escape responsibility.   
        A lesson for the day?  Don't be a "THEY."  Don't be part of a crowd that is headed down the wrong road.  Don't join in the language of hate.  Don't approve of the plans that are hatched against others.  "THEY" are not worth it.

        Lord, thank you for calling me out of the crowd.  Thank you for giving me the freedom to obey You.  Thank You for giving me the courage and strength not to be a "THEY."  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.