3-4 TALK

INTRO I think it's fair to say EVERYONE loves a great rivalry, don't they? When 2 arch rivals going head to head.

If you're into superheroes you've got Superman and Lex Luther, Batman and the Joker, Optimus Prime and Megatron.

For the more more high brow you've got Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty, Capulets and Montegues, Moby Dick and Captain Ahab

I was trying to think of a couple romantic arch rivals from Jane Austin or Bronte. But I got to admit Classic literiture's not my thing. Can anyone think of a great arch epically from Jane Austin or Charles Dickens?

Everyone loves a great arch rivalry don't they?

And today as we turn to the , that's exactly what we find. Two great arch rivals going head to head. Today we're going to watch Mordecai go head to head with .

But it's not like to equals going head to head. No, this is more like a David and Goliath type rivalry. Like an underdog against Goliath type rivalry. But like a true underdog. No matter how intimidating Haman is, no matter how great the pressure to submit to Haman. Like a true underdog, Mordecai, will refuse to bow before his arch rival.

So with that in mind, let's prayer and then dive and watch our two arch enemies go head to head.

Let's pray.

IN THE BLUE CORNER – A JEW WISE In the blue corner sits Mordecai, a faithful official working for King Xerxes. And In 2:19 the scene opens with him sitting at the kings gates. Again in V21 He's a wise official sitting at the Kings gate.

Now in the OT. Whenever you see someone sitting at the gate it means they're a city official. Their jobs to maintain law and order and justice. So Mordecai’s a respected leader working for the King

FAITHFUL And he’s faithful!

V21 … 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.

To guard the doorway means Bigthana and Teresh’re the last line of defense for the King. But instead of protecting, they’re planning to kill the king.

But their plan comes to nothing because our faithful Mordecai now warns the King and saves him. So in the blue corner’s Mordecai, a faithful Jewish leader of great value to the King.

IN THE RED CORNER - THE AGAGITE In the red corner stands Haman. Enemy of the Jews! And you know he's the enemy because he's Haman... the Agagite.

Just as the line of David rules Israel the Agagites ruled the Amalekites. And the Amalekites were the symbolic arch enemy of Israel because they were the First Nation to tried to destroy Israel as they came out of the wilderness. And they never stopped trying to destroy God’s people. So the Agagites symbolise all the powers that seek to destroy and curse Gods people.

Take a look at Deut 25 at God’s attitude towards this great enemy of his people.

17 Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. 18 When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey …and attacked all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. 19 When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land he is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the name of from under heaven. Do not forget!

So Haman the Agagite, leader of the Amalekites, represents the powers that’re out to destroy and curse Gods people. And a faithful Jew like Mordecai would not forget this.

That's the background, they’re the character’s in today’s passage

THE FIGHT STARTS And in 3:1, these historical enemies now meet, and there are fireworks. Take a look at 3:1

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.

Because … v4 … for he had told them he was a Jew.

So Haman’s now 2nd only to the King. He towers over Mordecai. But Mordecai refuses to bow to this Agagite. And when Haman finds out, v5:

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead … Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.

So like the Agagites of old Haman’s out to curse and destroy all of God’s people.

And as they now go head to head it’s interesting to see how they both now establish their plan of attack. Haman’s plan to destroy Gods People is based on hatred, half- truths and bribery. Mordecai’s plan to save God’s people is typically humble and faithful.

ROUND 1 – THE FIRST WORD IS THROWN And as we turn to 3:8 we start by watching Haman put his plan into action.

8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws … are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not … to the king's profit … to tolerate them.

Notice how his words sound like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, whispering in the Kings ear, spinning the truth into a lie.

Yes it's true that God’s people do have a different law, they do live by a different code, but of course they’re of profit to the King. In fact, it’s because they have a different way of life that they’re a profit to the King. That's what makes Gods people everywhere such a blessing to the world.

Remember when Esther became Queen, she brought about a subtle but great blessing to the Kingdom. And faithful Mordecai, an official sitting at the Kings gate, saving the Kings life.

God’s people so far have been nothing but humble and wise and faithful to the King. So of course they’re of profit to the King, they’re a blessing.

So Haman’s Plan is to twist the truth. And to play on the Kings greed through bribery

Take a look at v9. He says, they bring you no profit …

9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give … ten thousand talents of silver … that’s $250M … to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.

And with that...

15 ... The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman then sat down to drink,

You see Haman’s plans are based on half-truths and bribery. HIS WORDS can’t be trusted. And as he sits down to now celebrate with a drink he thinks he has had the final say. He thinks his victory is a foregone conclusion.

But take a look at Proverbs 16:1. This is something Haman doesn’t understand

1To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. 2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives… are weighed by the Lord. 3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. 4 The Lord works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked … for a day of disaster.

You see Haman doesn’t understand he can make all the plans in the world. He can twist the truth as much as he likes and offer as many bribes as he wants and get the backing of the world’s greatest superpower. He can do all of that. But in the end its God alone who decides the outcome. Not you. Not me. Not Haman. For

4 The Lord is the only one who works out everything to its proper end—Even the wicked for a day of disaster.

God alone decides the outcome of our plans.

ROUND 2 – MORDECAI RESPONDS

And that’s something Mordecai understands. And his actions in 4:1 shows it. Take a look at how Mordecai responds to Hamans plan in a way that acknowledges God’s sovereignty.

1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes,... put on sackcloth and ashes, …and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly … 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing.

You see God’s name may not be mentioned in the book of Esther but here in these verses God’s people, lead by Mordecai, are clearly calling out to God in a way that shows they understand. That God is the one who controls all creation. God is the one who decides the outcome of our plans.

And as we’re about to see he also knows that God has always promised to deliver his people. He’s always promised to curse those who curse them.

He doesn’t know how God will deliver them from Haman. He just knows that God HAS promised to always deliver them from their enemies. And with that in mind he now has an idea, and shares it with Esther through a messenger.

8 He gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, … and he told him to instruct Esther to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

Because in v14 … 14 if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise … just from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.

And who knows … who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

"Who knows if God in his great sovereignty, in his control of all creation, who knows if God has raised you Esther up to be the saviour of his people? So go into the King and beg for mercy. More than that! Go and plead on behalf of your people."

"Go and be Israel’s representative."

ESTHER AND THE GOSPEL These words have a strong Christ like feel to them don’t they. A royal figure representing God’s people. Raised up to save them from their arch enemy. These’re powerful words that reflect the gospel of Christ, don’t they?

You see, last week we began to see parallels between the story of salvation unfolding in the book of Esther and the story of salvation unfolding in the gospel. And last week we saw the parallels between the young wise Esther winning the respect of all who met her. And a young wise Jesus, winning the respect of all who met him.

Today! We another similar parallel in the 2 salvation narratives. Another Arch enemy. This time Satan! Going head to head with Jesus, wanting Jesus to bow down. And when Jesus doesn’t, Satan goes off to plot his destruction.

Turn to Matthew 4:1 and you’ll see Satan wanting Jesus bow down to him.

1 Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Mat 4:1-2)

… v3 … the devil said his first temptation, "If you’re the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."

His 2nd temptation … V5

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels … [to protect you.]

And a third time V8. And this one really sounds like the tension between Mordecai and Haman.

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (You see how his words are full of bribery like Haman.)

the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I’ll give you, if you’ll fall down and worship me."

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him…

Lukes gospel says the Devil left him … until an opportune time.”

He wants Jesus to bow down before him, to honour him. But like Mordecai, Jesus refuses to bow down. Because God alone is our Lord. And so in v11 the devil leaves. Since he can’t make him bow he’ll go away and plan an opportunity to destroy him.

The pressure Jesus and Mordecai experienced was big! Refusing to bow down had scary consequences for them both.

But their trust in God’s sovereignty, their belief in God as the boss of all creation, gave them the strength to stand in the face of temptation. Even when the consequences were scary for them.

So my question is, what nemesis is constantly tempting you to give in. What sin or temptation is tempting you to bow down and compromise your trust in God?

Saying no can be HARD! Especially when there’s a lot of peer pressure. Especially if you think you’re going to miss out.

And if you’ve let yourself get caught up in some temptation it can be really hard to now step back change. Because the temptation to give in and bow down will keep plaguing you.

But in the end we're called to stand up for Christ. To stand firm in our faith.

So when life is tough. And you’re tempted to give in or bow down. Remember that in the end GOD ALONE is sovereign. All other temptations, they make you feel good and secure for now. But in the end, they're empty. They will turn on you and lead you to hurt.

Because in the end only God alone offers true and eternal security. God alone is our Lord.

Let’s pray