Relationship

Then the palace officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?” They spoke to him day after day, but still he refused to comply with the order. So they spoke to Haman about this to see if he would tolerate Mordecai’s conduct, since Mordecai had told them he was a Jew. [Esther 3.3-4]

There is an interesting contrast found here in the book of Esther that I think is often overlooked. It has to do with religion, politics and social justice!

First, Xerxes was king. As such, what he decreed was law. His law was irrevocable. 

Vashti found out that the king's law superseded social justice. In other words, the king's law actually violated everything we know today as 'women's rights.' By edict of King Xerxes, Vashti was banished from his presence because of her refusal to come at his calling. This was done specifically for the purpose of establishing that women were to obey their husbands without exception. In today's social estimation, this was a huge social equality injustice.

Now, contrast Vashti's refusal to come to the king with Mordecai's refusal to bow to Haman (also commanded by the king). While Vashti, in her refusal to obey the king, faded into anonymity, Mordecai, in his refusal to obey the king, became a model figure in the story of Esther.

The difference between Vashti's basis for disobedience and Mordecai's basis for disobedience was this: religion. Mordecai was  Jew. Jewish law (at most) and culture (at least) forbid one man from worshiping another - especially outside Judaism (there were evidently some acceptable forms of "respect" shown for Israel's kings). So, the point is made in Esther's story that religion was the cause for Haman's hatred of Jews.

Along with the point made in Esther's story, there is nothing in the story that implies that Mordecai was in the wrong for refusing to obey the king. Vashti's character, on the other hand, seems to be made out to be wrong for refusing to obey the king. In other words, it would seem that Jewish religion - the religion and worship of God Almighty - was preeminent over all.

There is also an overlooked aspect of this story: Mordecai's relationship to the king. The king was fine with annihilating the Jews - until he found out that two of his best people, the man who saved his life and the wife who pleased him more than any other, would die as a result. There is something to be said for relationships!

The moral of the story? Perhaps we should all pay attention when we want to go against our leadership! Is there any kind of relationship and loyalty there in the first place?

Hmm. I don't even know where to go with this...

Father, help me to be right in my relationship with those in authority over me. Let this especially be so as the time comes when my religion requires me to disobey.