Reflections on Esther 10

 Esther 10(Contemporary English Version)

1. King Xerxes made everyone in his kingdom pay taxes, even those in lands across the sea.
2. All the great and famous things that King Xerxes did are written in the record books of the kings of Media and Persia. These records also tell about the honors that the king gave to Mordecai.
3. Next to the king himself, Mordecai was the highest official in the kingdom. He was a popular leader of the Jews, because he helped them in many ways and would even speak to the king for them.

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Verse 1 of this final chapter gives a hint of the extensive reach of King Ahasuerus' rule and serves as a backdrop for extolling Mordecai's status in verses 2 and 3. As second in command in the kingdom, Mordecai's power would have grown along with the king's, and Mordecai used it to benefit his people. Obviously, he would have been popular with his own people as mentioned in the last verse, but we get the impression he was looked on with favor by the king and possibly by the population at large.

Though it is pointed out by virtually every Bible commentator that the book of Esther does not mention God, I am struck in the reading of every chapter of God's hand intervening in the events it records. And through His intervention not only were the Jewish people everywhere kept from extinction, but they were aided in their return from Babylon to their homeland after 70 years of exile to fulfill God's word.

The events of Esther took place during the time of Ezra who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. It is likely that it was through Mordecai's influence that King Artaxerxes, King Ahasuerus' son, looked with favor on Nehemiah when the Lord directed him to return to rebuild the walls and city of Jerusalem. Not only did King Artaxerxes allow Nehemiah to return with a large contingent of Jews, he provided armed security along with materials for his task of rebuilding.

This is how God works on behalf of His people. He not only gives directions, He provides the means. Then our part is to trust and to act upon His directions.