Mordecai Bowed Not
- Alan Fong
- 14 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Today's Verse:
And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. ~Esther 3:2
We have certain gestures that we exercise in public to acknowledge another person. For instance, when someone is introduced to us, we extend our hand for a friendly handshake. When we enter the presence of someone of great stature and importance, we slightly bow to show our respect. Several years ago, I flew on an international-bound airline. Prior to safety instructions being given, a senior flight attendant came to the section where I was seated and bowed to me and the other passengers. The bow was a sign of respect to all of us. In our passage this morning, we are examining a situation where a man of great character did not bow. This morning, let us see why “Mordecai bowed not.”
We see a devious conniver.
“After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.” Haman was a descendant of the Amalekites, from the line of King Agag. The Amalekites were an idolatrous people who despised and hated the Jews. Haman was a manipulator who took advantage of King Xerxes for his own benefit. He was a materialistic and worldly-minded man. He was an evil man filled with hatred, wrath, envy, deception, and a desire to advance at the expense of anyone in his way. Haman is an Old Testament type of the Antichrist. To be antichrist is to be against everything about our Lord. Haman was elevated to a position where almost everyone in the kingdom was expected to revere and acknowledge him.
We see a devoted Christian.
“And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.” Haman was at a place in the Persian kingdom where all the king’s servants bowed to him: all, except one man. That man was a sincere and devoted believer named Mordecai. “But Mordecai bowed not.” Mordecai knew this man’s ancestral roots. Mordecai knew that this man was pure evil. Mordecai knew that if he bowed to him, it would mean giving respect to this evil man’s agenda. He bowed not to Haman’s ideologies. He bowed not to Haman’s agenda. He bowed not to Haman’s worldly goals. Eventually, Haman manipulated the king to pass a law requiring the death of every Jew in the Persian kingdom. Mordecai was a man of such steadfast faith that he did not bow, even under this pressure,
We see a deeply rooted conviction.
“But Mordecai bowed not.” We need strong convictions like Mordecai. We live in an era where people bow to things that are clearly ungodly and sinful. We should not bow to the god of money and materialism. We should not bow to the god of convenience. We should not bow to the god of education. We should not bow to self-idolatry and narcissism. We should not bow to slothfulness and laziness. We should not bow to a spirit of disobedience. Like in the days of Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, there are monstrous golden images beckoning us to bow to them. We must be resolute and strongly convicted that we will not bow! Mordecai bowed not!
What are you bowing to that is becoming an idol in your life? Ask God to fortify you with great courage, and determine to “bow not.”
Have a glorifying God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Numbers 21-22