Hester Panim
I've finished Esther in my attempt to read it with completely fresh eyes. I am continually pulled to the story of Mordechai and especially so here at the end. Haman get's hanged on his own gallows and his estate is given to Esther who gives charge of it to Mordechai and the divine coup is completed.
Mordechai is exaulted now and becomes second only to the king himself. The diaspora gain the right to bear arms against their oppressors and do so. An interesting point is that the do not "lay hands on the spoil" as if to underline that they are only defending their lives and not plundering the kingdom.
Mordechai becomes the second most powerful man in Shushan, second only to the king and in good favor with his brethern and the people. I think Mordechai's true colors show through in these final chapters. He is willing to hold any station and appointment and to do it with unerring loyalty. I think Mordechai would have been just as happy and contented in his beginning situation as he most likely was in the end.
These last statements about Mordechai give a wonderful closure to his sub-story:
He ended well but I think the real power and force behind his story is that he sought "the good of his people" and spoke "peace to all his countrymen" regardless of his station or situation. Mordechai can teach us about steadfastness of purpose regardless of where that purpose takes us. If we are blessed, we will be blessed; if we perish, we perish.
There is a certain, holy resolve in Mordechai's way of doing things that is very appealing and I find it hard to turn away from to read Esther's story.
My conclusions about Mordechai are that he is the kind of "Tough Jew" that G-d so dearly loves. Indeed the name "Isra-el" means to "wrestle with G-d" and in the end it seems to be Israel's tenacity that is both their biggest blessing and biggest stumbling block. G-d loves "tough Jews" the ones that are willing to stick it out 100% and stay with G-d regardless of the outcomes. On the flipside, when they, or we turn tour backs on Him we become stubborn willed and "stiff necked." But, this isn't just Israel, it's just an illustration for all of us, a picture of human nature.
I think the highlight of Mordechai's sub story is that he didn't appear to care what happened to him, whether his actions (or Esther's) brough death, persecution, prison or further wrath. He was simply doing what was right. Mordechai sets a fine example of how to "get things done" on a large scale in a very godly manner. I think Mordechai's formula is simple and powerful: pray, wait, act, repeat. Mordechai starts with prayer. The text doesn't say so explicitly but we find that he has clearly been in communion with G-d over this when he says that Esther can choose otherwise. Mordechai has prayed and continues to do so apparently. Mordechai watches and waits expectantly for opportunities. I believe it is his faith that allows him to see the opportunities for what they are. The coup against the king is a perfect example. Mordechai acts with righteousness in the midst of the situation. he chooses actions in response to his opportunities that are in line with his faith.
It's a simple formula but one based on actions springing from faith. I didn't think this was going to be a long post today but I guess I was wrong. My final questions to myself at the end of Esther were two fold. First, what if Esther had chosen differently? Would Mordechai have come to the same triumph? Second, am I willing to submit to such a simple and watchful plan in my own life? Pray, watch, act. Simple and profound.
It is also interesting that G-d's name never appears overtly in the text of Esther. The Jews call it "Hester Panim"which is the "hidden face of G-d." G-d is so obviosly in control of the events and the situations that it is almost as if I read Him into the text on my own. The name of G-d is peculiarly absent, but, His presence is felt in the text even sometimes more keenly because He is not a stated player.
I think that there is a tremendous mirroring of purpose found in this fact. Mordechai was content to do all that he was able in a position of anonymity but in the end he received honor and glory for his actions. So too with G-d in Esther's story. G-d is the true cause of victory and celebration and yet He is not named nor is He given the glory that is due to Him within the text. Instead G-d received the greater glory and the greater honor by preparing his people to return to Jerusalem to worship Him (via King Darius). In G-d's own subtle way I think G-d and Mordechai are really on the same page and using the same approach. This further underlines my conclusions about Mordechai and his understanding of G-d's plan for Esther and for Israel.
Whew!
Mordechai is exaulted now and becomes second only to the king himself. The diaspora gain the right to bear arms against their oppressors and do so. An interesting point is that the do not "lay hands on the spoil" as if to underline that they are only defending their lives and not plundering the kingdom.
Mordechai becomes the second most powerful man in Shushan, second only to the king and in good favor with his brethern and the people. I think Mordechai's true colors show through in these final chapters. He is willing to hold any station and appointment and to do it with unerring loyalty. I think Mordechai would have been just as happy and contented in his beginning situation as he most likely was in the end.
These last statements about Mordechai give a wonderful closure to his sub-story:
For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews
and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his
people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.
He ended well but I think the real power and force behind his story is that he sought "the good of his people" and spoke "peace to all his countrymen" regardless of his station or situation. Mordechai can teach us about steadfastness of purpose regardless of where that purpose takes us. If we are blessed, we will be blessed; if we perish, we perish.
There is a certain, holy resolve in Mordechai's way of doing things that is very appealing and I find it hard to turn away from to read Esther's story.
My conclusions about Mordechai are that he is the kind of "Tough Jew" that G-d so dearly loves. Indeed the name "Isra-el" means to "wrestle with G-d" and in the end it seems to be Israel's tenacity that is both their biggest blessing and biggest stumbling block. G-d loves "tough Jews" the ones that are willing to stick it out 100% and stay with G-d regardless of the outcomes. On the flipside, when they, or we turn tour backs on Him we become stubborn willed and "stiff necked." But, this isn't just Israel, it's just an illustration for all of us, a picture of human nature.
I think the highlight of Mordechai's sub story is that he didn't appear to care what happened to him, whether his actions (or Esther's) brough death, persecution, prison or further wrath. He was simply doing what was right. Mordechai sets a fine example of how to "get things done" on a large scale in a very godly manner. I think Mordechai's formula is simple and powerful: pray, wait, act, repeat. Mordechai starts with prayer. The text doesn't say so explicitly but we find that he has clearly been in communion with G-d over this when he says that Esther can choose otherwise. Mordechai has prayed and continues to do so apparently. Mordechai watches and waits expectantly for opportunities. I believe it is his faith that allows him to see the opportunities for what they are. The coup against the king is a perfect example. Mordechai acts with righteousness in the midst of the situation. he chooses actions in response to his opportunities that are in line with his faith.
It's a simple formula but one based on actions springing from faith. I didn't think this was going to be a long post today but I guess I was wrong. My final questions to myself at the end of Esther were two fold. First, what if Esther had chosen differently? Would Mordechai have come to the same triumph? Second, am I willing to submit to such a simple and watchful plan in my own life? Pray, watch, act. Simple and profound.
It is also interesting that G-d's name never appears overtly in the text of Esther. The Jews call it "Hester Panim"which is the "hidden face of G-d." G-d is so obviosly in control of the events and the situations that it is almost as if I read Him into the text on my own. The name of G-d is peculiarly absent, but, His presence is felt in the text even sometimes more keenly because He is not a stated player.
I think that there is a tremendous mirroring of purpose found in this fact. Mordechai was content to do all that he was able in a position of anonymity but in the end he received honor and glory for his actions. So too with G-d in Esther's story. G-d is the true cause of victory and celebration and yet He is not named nor is He given the glory that is due to Him within the text. Instead G-d received the greater glory and the greater honor by preparing his people to return to Jerusalem to worship Him (via King Darius). In G-d's own subtle way I think G-d and Mordechai are really on the same page and using the same approach. This further underlines my conclusions about Mordechai and his understanding of G-d's plan for Esther and for Israel.
Whew!
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