Courage

Introduction

While we can give a definition of courage actually seeing it and participating in it is quite different. Courage is a rare part of life. Most of us choose the easy path rather than the courageous path. It doesn’t take a lot of courage to live this life. Work, eat, sleep, take leisure, enjoy life, try to exercise and keep your yard looking nice — these are not things that require courage. Courage isn’t demanded in our culture. Our culture encourages people to mind their own business and to live life without invading another person’s space. Such doesn’t require courage. Because it is so rare we appreciate courage when it is seen.

Certain occupations demand courage and we have a deep respect for such. Consider first responders — police officers, fire fighters, even EMT workers must go engage where most are trying to avoid. We respect those who go outside of their comfort zone in order to rescue another. 90 year old Catherine Ritchey was getting ready for bed when her house caught on fire. She tried to extinguish the flames but soon was overcome by smoke. Disoriented she called 911 and began to scream for help. Across the street four teenage boys heard her calls for help and began to assist. Nick Byrd, 14, and his brother Seth Byrd, 16, went to get into the house. Wyatt Hall, 17 went to a neighbor’s house to get more assistance. Dylan Wick, 16 called 911. Ms. Ritchey survived and the fire department quickly extinguished the fire. Courage.

We admire courage. We may not think of ourselves as being courageous but there are times when courage is called for. As we study Esther 3 today we will notice the courage of Mordecai. We will be impressed by his courage. We will also note that not all acts of courage have good outcomes. Courage doesn’t guarantee success but then courage that only activates when outcomes are assured is not courage at all. That is what adds to the beauty of courage — not knowing what will happen.

Danger Lurks

At the end of chapter 2, Mordecai uncovers a plot to assassinate the king. He reports this to Esther who in turn tells the king about this assassination. When the king discovers that the plot is true, the two instigators are impaled and the king has his scribes record the incident and to be sure to include Mordecai’s name. This common practice was the means that kings had to keep up with all the significant events of his reign. By the end of chapter two the recording is made but no reward is given. We must wait to find out how this twist affects the ultimate story of Esther. But this event demonstrates that Mordecai is loyal to the king and that he is a man of courage. This becomes more evident as we turn our attention to chapter 3.

At the very beginning we are introduced to Haman. Not having been mentioned previously we know very little about him. We do not know what he did to impress the king. What we do know that being the highest ranking official brings certain perks. One of those is to be treated like the king. When one sees Haman one sees the king. And as we will find out about Haman he is a prideful man. He takes full advantage of this notoriety. We can imagine that he leaves the palace frequently just to make sure that everyone bows down to him. In Persian thought bowing to kings or their representatives was viewed as bowing to diety.

Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman. The text seems to suggest that Haman is unaware of this disrespect and disobedience to the king’s command until the royal officials make Haman aware of this slight. The text tells us that they want to see what Haman will do about Mordecai. Haman’s response is not just to kill Mordecai but to kill all that Mordecai represents, the Jewish people. The text tells us that Mordecai refuses to bow because he is Jewish. The implication is that Jews would not bow to a person but only to God. However, there may also be another reason. Haman is an Agagite. This means he is a descendent of Amalek. The Amalekites were long enemies of God’s people. They attacked Israel when they left Egypt killing some of the weak, old, and sick. God gave them over 400 years to repent but they did not and Saul was commissioned to wipe them out when he was king. He didn’t. Now 500 years later we have an Amalekite in a very powerful position and Mordecai refuses to bow down. The enmity between Jews and Amalekites has a long history. Mordecai had religious and political reasons not to bow to Haman and Haman has a very strong history of wanting to destroy the Jews. Thus, the command is given that on a certain day every Jew in the Persian kingdom will be killed.

Mordecai is a man of great courage. His refusal to bow to Haman will certainly not turn out well. He couldn’t have possibly known how far Haman will go to make the point but surely Mordecai knew that his disrespect would probably result in a bad outcome for himself. In the face of danger, Mordecai does the right thing.

So What?

There are two things to note from this text. First, an obscure point from the text should inspire us. Look at 3:12. The writing of the decree to kill all the Jews is written on the 13th day of the 1st month. In the Jewish calendar this is the month of Nisan. Adar which is the 12th month will be the day of destruction. Don’t think of our calendar. The 12th month of the Jewish calendar falls in our February—March. Thus, the first month is March—April. If you go back to Exodus 12, we have God announcing a new feast that is to be kept for all generations. It is to occur in the first month. The lamb is to be set aside on the 10th day and then the lamb is killed and eaten on the 14th day. The edict for the Jews destruction is given on the day before Passover begins. Do you see the irony? While Haman and the Persian kingdom plot the destruction of God’s people, God a thousand years before set his people free. While God is never mentioned in Esther, the Jews one day after the edict is written will celebrate God’s power displayed a 1000 years before. Do you think that the Jews in remembering the Passover might have prayed for God to act again on their behalf?

Our God is faithful. Do you remember the times when God acted for you? Do you remember when God’s power has been brought into your life? Do you recall that during times of uncertainty and instability that you can look back and see how God gave strength to endure and brought assurance in instability?

When we share in the Lord’s Supper each week we are remembering that God has acted and will act again. We remember that God is faithful.

Second, we do not choose the opportunities to demonstrate courage but when those times come we choose if courage will be our response. I suspect the first time it was announced that the king decreed that all bow to Haman that Mordecai had a decision to make. It might have been easy to return home that first day, but his absence would have been noticed as well. Mordecai didn’t choose the opportunity but he chose how to respond when the opportunity came. His refusal to bow was an act of courage.

Your opportunity will come tomorrow at work when co-workers mistreat someone or slander the boss. What will you do?

Your opportunity will come in your home when you need to talk to your spouse about your marriage. What will you do?

Your opportunity will come in your neighborhood when a neighbor is pushing all the right buttons to demonstrate a lack of respect for others. What will you do?

Your opportunity will come when someone speaks about God as a failure and a fictional character. What will you do?

I came across the following a long time ago. It has been years since I used it in a sermon but it fits. The author is unknown:

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, live by prayer and labor by His power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable and my mission clear. I cannot be bought, deluded or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go ‘till He comes, give ‘till I drop, preach ‘till all know and work ‘till He stops me. And when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.

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