May 4th

May 4th -- Esther 3 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%203&version=NLT)

Haman's plot against the Jews

King Xerxes promotes a man named Haman above the other officials, making him the most powerful one in the empire. All the king's officials bowed to Haman out of respect, as the king had commanded them to, except Mordecai would not. Mordecai was asked why he refused to and they spoke to him daily but he still refused to bow. The men then spoke to Haman, to see if he would tolerate it, since Mordecai was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow, he became very angry and when he learned Mordecai was a Jew, he decided to punish not just Mordecai but all the Jews. Haman had lots cast in his presence to choose the best day. Haman then approached the king and told him all about a race who was scattered in his provinces who had different laws and wouldn't obey the kings. Haman went on to say it wasn't in the king's best interest for them to live. He says that if the king will, then issue a decree for them to be destroyed, and Haman will have 10,000 given to the royal treasury for it. The king agrees, even giving Haman the signet ring as a symbol of agreement, and telling him the money and people were his to do with as he pleased. So Haman had a decree written exactly as he dictated, and it was sent out among the provinces. This decree told them that all Jews had to be killed on March 7th of the next year, and that the one who killed the Jew would receive their property. The decrees were sent out everywhere, so all knew of it. The king and Haman sat down to drink, though, leaving Susa in confusion.

I think sometimes we like to think that people have some good in them that will always save them. We think that no matter how bad someone may seem, that the good in them will always win out in the end. We like to hope, because we know that we are people, and so they're like us and we're like them. We don't want to see them fall and be ruined by wrong choices, because we realize that we'd be just like them without God. "But for the grace of God, there go I." That's kind of the main idea of a tragedy, or at least by Aristotle's definition of a tragedy, which requires a catharsis, or the idea expressed in that quote. Haman's story is kind of a tragedy. He's not portrayed as a horrible guy, but his flaw is his pride, which is boosted by those around him. So when he faces Mordecai, who treats him as an equal, he's mad, and more so when he realized Mordecai is of a race that they considered lesser at the time. This causes him to make the stupid decision to slay all Jews, which leads him to ruin. It's sad. We'd love for all people to be saved, and for us to be able to say, with certainty, "that's okay, I'll see ya' in heaven", but not all will be saved. Not all will enter heaven. When that hits me - the real true gravity of that - I understand fearing God as we should. Love him, for His mercy, that any of us may enter, but fear Him, too, for His judgement, that many of us will not enter. Just realize, that all people have good, yourself included, but not all people are good, or will turn good. Some people will simply make bad choices and do wrong things - they may not have a moment of goodness and suddenly change their mind and become a better person. Just ensure that you don't become one of those people.

That's all for today! God bless! Shalom!

P.S. May the 4th of God be with you   (Sorry, I've seen so many "May the 4th" jokes today I had to make one....)