Esther 3:5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged.
“Sore Thumb sticks out.”
Swelling and stiffness in a sore thumb reduces the flexibility to move the thumb to bend, move or hold. We are called to stand up against ungodly values, ethical practices and moral principles that are detestable to the Lord.
Mordecai, the uncle of Esther, refused to pay homage to Haman, the Prime Minister of Persia and the royal adviser to King Ahasuerus. 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 (Esther 3:2). Haman was not disrespecting authority but he refused to worship a man. The commandment explicitly states, “You shall not bow down to them or worship them” (Exodus 20:5a). Idolatry is abhorrent to the Lord – stand up against idolatry like a sore thumb!
Furthermore, Haman was an “Agagite”, (Esther 3:1), and was believed to have hailed from the family bloodline of King Agag, the Amalekite. The Amalekites were ruthless to the Jews and the Lord had sworn to wipe their name off the earth because of their merciless treatment to the vulnerable. Mordecai refused to conform to the ways and norms of the world. He stood up and stood out like a sore thumb to honour God.
Haman in rage plotted genocide not only murder Mordecai but also to annihilate the Jews all around the world. However, the Lord turned the table over on the wicked bloodthirsty murderer.
Stand Up:
1. Homage: We cannot participate in honouring nature or any other religious beliefs just to be included and accepted. Never fear man or worship affluence or position. We must respect authority, not idolize them or engage in conversations or conduct that are contrary to the Word of God.
2. Humiliate: It is possible that we could be ridiculed, picked on or even humiliated in social gatherings or official functions. We might be shunned, disrespected and rejected but stand up like a sore thumb to godly values.
3. Humble: If the arrogant do not humble to God’s authority, God will humble them.
Stand up against idolizing people, power and possessions.
Prayer: Jesus my Saviour, teach me to balance between respecting godly authority and rejecting the norms of the world graciously and lovingly. Amen.
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