Plot against the Jews (Esther 3:1-2, 6, 8, 10)

Later, King Xerxes promoted Haman to the highest position in his kingdom. The king gave orders for his officials at the royal gate to honor him by kneeling down to him. All of them obeyed except Mordecai the uncle of Esther. And when he found out that Mordecai was a Jew, he knew that killing him was not enough. Every Jew in the kingdom had to be exterminated. Then Haman went to the king and said: Your Majesty, there are some people who live all over your kingdom and won't have a thing to do with anyone else. They have customs that are different from everyone else's, and they refuse to obey your laws. We would be better off to get rid of them! The king handed his official ring to Haman, who hated the Jews and the king told him, "Do what you want with those people. You can keep their money."

It is important to realize that this is not a fictional event, that it is a real occurence in history. Without a doubt, the Jews have always been a persecuted people, but their real hope is in Father-God. Mordecai's refusal to bow is similar to Daniel's refusal for the same thing because bowing before someone is reserved for God alone and now it will be up to God to deliver his people.

Daily Prayer: Father, I am not under legal persecution to obey you, but I have social pressures from the world for my relationship with you. The world does not know you, but I know you. When I walk by sight it leads to human error and decline. But when I walk by faith it leads to true life and responsibility to you alone. Nobody can deliver out of your hand. In your name I pray Amen.