Family Feud, Part 1

Destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordechai who were throughout the whole kingdom of hazards. Aspartame is concerned, this morning ties disobedience as an excuse to set all this family feud once and for all he wants to set it up so that it began as an extermination of this people. This is an earlier holocaust in the making is this is a more ancient Hitler is seen as someone to have it all his life was going really well. Mordechai realized something important.

He realized that there are things in life far more important than career fame and money. That's a lesson we all need to learn. Welcome to wisdom for the hard are Bible teacher is pastor and author Stephen Davey today Stephen continues through his series from the Old Testament book of Esther. Stephen also has a book covering Esther and I'll tell you more about that later but for now here Stephen with a lesson called family that it had the most famous family feud in American history was the feud between the Hatfields and the boys know whether to everybody does feud.

However, between these families was real and it would become deadly Hatfields and the cars are actually to wealthy families lived on either side of a river named talk that by the way, geographically represented the border of Kentucky and West Virginia talk for wound its way around the McCoys lived on Kentucky side and the Hatfields lived on the West Virginia side in 1878. Mr. McCauley accused Mr. Hatfields family. One of them at least of color crosstalk for the cover of darkness and stealing one of his home defense was serious series like that, especially, it ended up in court, but the McCoys were unable to prove the crime taken place.

So the Hatfields were let go and created sexual resentment that sometime after the trial. You can believe it. One of the McCoys actually shot and killed a juror who had sided with the Hatfields and only escalated after the in 1882, four years later. One of the McCoys ran for public office. He was publicly attacked and verbally accosted. He was discredited out there in the open for the election as a result, he lost the election retaliation became a bloodbath and at the end of the shooting, Mr. Hatfields politician to be son was dead as well as three members of the McCoy family would also been killed fighting them stop that and actually spread along the border of Kentucky and the border of West Virginia added to my supporters of either the Hatfields or the McCoys feud reached its peak and what would be called in that region. The 1888 New Year's massacre with several of the Hatfields again surrounded the McCoy Homestead open fire on the sleeping family set the house on fire in an effort to drive Randolph McCoy out of the open is skate slipped away unnoticed to his children were killed and his wife left for 11 years between 1880 in 1891. This family feud would actually claim dozens of lives from among both of the families often becoming headlines back, I learned just recently in studying this event that the governors of Kentucky and West Virginia called up their state militias to try to stop the fighting and restore order.

Think of it all began with stolen. I would agree with Old Testament scholars that the drama behind the book of Esther includes in some way.

Family feud is not coincidental that though the family tree payment is repeated for such a short book as well as the family. Mordechai bad blood goes all the way back to the book of Exodus.

In chapter 17, where the Valentine's became the dubious distinction of becoming the first nation to go against the people of God in war you may remember that story were imposed as his hands were his people succeeded in his hands fell down the veil and so his associates held his hands up and they defeated the Amalekites, but that only began feud would last. By the way 900 years, which is where we find Haman in chapter 3 of Esther about to wipe them out.

If he has his way, attempting effectively to wipe out the people from whom the promised Savior would be born, and that's the bigger issue is to go back to first Samuel get another inclination of the bloodshed between these two peoples you discover the King Saul has been commanded by God to act in judgment as Israel often was, they were they were sort of judgment from God against the idolatrous nation and they were to wipe out the Amalekites and King a gag along with instead of obeying God. Saul spare King a gag and kept the best of the herds and flocks for himself. So Samuel the prophet comes along and tells Saul because of that the kingdom is going take away from you and your throne given to another and in Samuel has King a gag executed. Still, the descendents of a gag flourish. The bitterness and the anger and the hostility and hatred for God and his growing animosity against the people of God festers interrupts from time to time and in bloodshed. In fact, now here in the book of Esther.

This is the ultimate context of the threat escalated the bloodshed in an attempt by Haman, who by the way, is a descendent of a gag and it will rub against Mordechai descendent of King Saul.

In fact, the key verse that gives you the underlying theme of all is in chapter 3 verse 10, you might just underline that verse. Then King took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, who is he, all you need to know this son of med. I thought the guidance the enemy of the Jews. He sees Ezra is writing this at this account. He was the aspiring spirit is willing, doesn't want you to miss the real issue. This is about a lot more than a stolen visit feud represents the hatred of the kingdom of darkness, for the kingdom of light summarizes the hatred the people of God by the people of the world you see that erupting in fact, around the world today. Hundreds of thousands of people will die for Jesus Christ. Somewhere on the planet this year alone on the surface, you can travel back to defeated nation and executed King deposed family wounded pride, but underneath the surface of a gag's history is the enemy of God. Satan himself is been trying for centuries to destroy the covenant nation and therefore null and void. The promises of God to guide a gag wasn't the first and Haman will not be the last. Again, you need to understand this is ultimately a battle a few so to speak, between the family of Satan in the family of God. The kingdom of darkness in the kingdom of light, and Ezra doesn't want us to miss that. With that as a backdrop to pick up the drama where we left off. Chapter 2 in verse 21, and you'll notice right away. Mordechai's been promoted and I just wanted to point out something about that very first opening phrase in verse 21 Chapter 2 how that in those days.

Mordechai was sitting at the King gate confusing to us as English readers. When you're when you read it.

Mordechai was sitting at the Kingsgate.

You wonder if he was at the end of the driveway.

That doesn't sound like a promotion at all is raining out there. Sometimes it's cold out there in areas at the gate to watch people take their licenses as is not what's happening.

The gate was actually a large building just inside the palace complex. It was the administration building where legal and commercial and civil business was transacted on the King. So whenever you hear the Old Testament somebody sitting at the gate outside some wooden doors there actually within the administration of the king inside of the palace.

It's interesting to discover as the archaeologists have here at the palace of Susa which is where this drama is taking place. The Kingsgate was a building of about 12,000 ft.².

In fact, there is an inscription by Xerxes. A hazardous is threatening the sinking where he is where he is honoring his father for building such a wonderful administrative building. I say that you understand to be sitting at the Kingsgate means that you are now one of the movers and shakers in the kingdom your side the inner circle you get in the office parties and the president you get that little Christmas gift.

When the insignia of the company logo in this case the kings insignia your drink tea cups in your home given to you by the king take to put it in our context, he has moved into the West Wing is right next to the Oval Office. He's in the place of power, he has achieved his ambition. He has more, but I'm sure he has a rod, thanks to Esther no doubt promoted when she became Queen noticing in verse 21 while he was sitting at the Kingsgate is what happened in Terrace selling bad guys don't think big tears to the king's officials from those of guarding the door, became angry, they drew in the rest and sought to lay hands on king. The hazards shake and it will lay on were told what they did for a living. In verse 21, they were literally rendered. Regards the threshold, which meant that they were standing just outside the doors of the Oval Office during the last defense in the light of many defenses you could see the king unless you got past big and terrors were not told why Ararat had been growing. When told why they wanted to kill one of the Jewish manuscript say they want to poison, but it doesn't take too much of a stretch of imagination. Once you learn anything about the fact that there unit Herodotus, the Greek historian who lived during these days, reported that as many as 500 young boys were gathered from subjugated nations within the Empire every year and castrated to serve as a unit.

This was a brutal act that just pictured in 1 More Way how everyone whether you are a beautiful young virgin or a young boy that he wanted to have served you were property and you were at the disposal of the king you will all UNIX were always entrusted with the king's hair. Many of them in fact would become well trusted leading officials throughout these ancient empires about one of the most famous UNIX in the Bible is the prophet Daniel instead of going bitterness decided to Daniel's own testimony instead of growing angry is wrapped building because he was abducted.

Now his inability to be married father children have a home. He instead becomes a faithful and hard-working ambassador ultimately for the true and living God fact, he will lead some of those political leaders in the faith. Faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, the wonderful story would understand the context so it's not surprising to learn and Esther chapter 2 UNIX are planning to kill the King often ancient history units were part of palace uprisings. In fact, it will be a UNIX who will succeed in a few years in ending this king's life when he slips into his bedchamber at night and cuts his but this attempt failed. Josephus the first century Jewish historian at the mentorship evidence telling us that one of the UNIX servants overheard the plot and went and told Mordechai here in verse 22 we read that Mordechai told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king note this in Mordechai's name when I got to miss any running point possibilities here.

You need to know that your administrator Maracay has say here you will expect now some handsome reward. Persian kings were known to do that for those courts would save their lives expecting maybe a pay raise any new office furniture. Three more days of vacation something to say God, thank you and what is the king do nothing. In fact the king for some odd reason, even though he hasn't written in his presence in the minutes, completely overlooks the matter of Mordechai's reward for his loyalty.

So all you readers in verse 23 2012. The best galas in the account was written in the book of Chronicles kings present that to pay raise gold watch and will eventually discover why in chapter 6. God doesn't want the king to do anything until just the right time. In fact, that right time will be just about when Haman is going to succeed. Then the Lord will bring back this lifesaving act of Mordechai to the king's memory when it's right for God's plan and typing. In fact, the king will order Haman several more. Mordechai even though I'm not everybody at this point except for his family came in just building a gallows upon which God is moving chess pieces on the chessboard of human history, exactly where he wants them as he eventually moves this entire contest to a checkmate against the kingdom of lets the good news were way ahead of the stories.

Chapter 2 will instead of honoring or promoting Mordechai go to chapter 3 and verse one.

Notice this after these events. King a hazardous promoted the wrong guy.

Haman who is he over again the son of an metafile. The aggregate and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes were with them all looking servants who are at the Kingsgate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, so the king had commanded concerning him, but Mordechai neither bow down nor paid homage you feel now says if you never read this book, you promise not to read the tension building tension. You need to know why Mordechai is risking everything he has gained by refusing the bow. It really that make any sense. You need to know this is more than just a little curtsy in the palace protocol whenever these two Hebrew verbs appear side-by-side sandwiched in the same same sentence for bowing and paying women are combined in the Old Testament, they always refer to worshiping and reverencing God is what happened.

Haman is really caught up with himself.

Their little gods runaround became king orders.

Make sure you prostrate like you went before God. Haman is so caught up with Julie is and now the prime minister uses reflection every time you walk by mere constantly polishing his reflection. Mordechai refused about several views and arguments on why he refused about what I read was that because arrogant and upset that he was promoted he wasn't interested in court politics and just, you know about. He doesn't like Haman, he enjoys irritating Haman every time Haman comes in many centuries and some of these triggers we will not get because he tells us why verse four. He will bow to him why he tells a staff because he told them he was a Jew, a faithful Jew will never give that kind of reverence anybody but there God listens for the first time there's a little glimmer of light in here. Something has happened to Mordechai for nearly 5 years he's been hiding a secret and he is sworn Esther to secrecy as well.

Don't tell anybody here Julie will get the crowd and tell anybody, but now the secret is out and it's morning, I frankly everybody's right to lease this to the breath. This was a perfect time to bolster his secret with no faithful Jew would continue the secret that is not part fact but now we refuses about by the way, exposes Esther people know he raised Esther. They lived in Susan. He was part of the celebration. He got his job because of her promotion to connect the dots forcibly Haman can be doesn't connect about these two busy looking at his own reflection in the mirror if he had tried to assassinate Esther before having this edict signed but it's going to be too late, until he realizes it when he realizes that he will walk into the trap set by our sovereign Lord, why tell the secret now.

Why risk the power. Why risk his position is finally at office down the hallway from the oval. He's in the inner circle could be a couple reasons why one of them would be perhaps is discovered that all the stuff that's really matter anyway. He's the proverbial man climbs to the top of the ladder of success only to discover upon arriving that is leaning against the wrong wall. He's on the inside track for four years now knows is empty. There's got to be more this. Have you ever been many are just coming to realize that you can have everything in it can mean nothing. You see, Mordechai has been on the inside four years to get all the perks you get the staff yet the prestige of the literature you get a direct phone line to the king and by the way is adopted daughter is on the throne. He has arrived he feels like something something more, something different.

Maybe that's your story in your search. Mordechai knew what it was. He was running from the true and living God, the God of his forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He was keeping a secret he was denying who he was and he was unfaithful to the covenant keeping God, and I want to tell you.

He's also been inside the kingdom of Persia to know there's got to be a greater kingdom of the kingdom of Persia.

What a mess. This was one of's you got an emotional adolescent sitting on the throne prime minister Garner polishing his reflection in the unit. Doctors are seething with anger drawing women whose lives are being destroyed.

There's got to be beside the kingdom of Persia. By the way, Esther has lived with the king long enough to also come to grips with the fact that it was he seen the king gather another bevy of virgin she's lived with them long enough to know that she'll never have what she wanted. One author put it well. These two people were disappointed depths of their disappointment, we can fully understand what disappointment is often nurse of wisdom may be used to seen enough of the kingdom of this world to be disappointed in your beginning to have some wines thoughts about God. Mordechai then for the first time in his book reveals the secret to that's a loaded statement in that statement he reveals to his people are. He reveals what his heritage was, he reveals his God in reference to only and he also reveals to his world. Even though I there's another effect of a more explicit reason given. I believe with the use of these Hebrew verbs. Mordechai surrenders basically to the truth of reverence. Anybody got that kind of frustration is to break the law of God, and no one he is a wonderful book on Esther. At this point says I am ready to throw my hat in the air say hooray or Mordechai. He's taking a stand for God tells them here's why I should. While perhaps that's the kind of courage.

For those of us in Christ need where you going into your world and you say I am Christian staff leak it to Haman and Haman then begins to look and noticed it before but I want to Mordechai neither bow down or paid omniscient payment was filled with a range. He's angry why the rain bow hunting when you go to the office. Big deal. Why so much rage at this because he disdainfully attends a morning nylon watches for they had told him who the people of Mordechai were this is it. This is all that bad blood. This is my deposed forefather my executed forefather my loss so payments on the verse tells us to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordechai who were throughout the whole kingdom of hazardous aspartame is concerned, this was easy to use as this is a gift from his God.

This is in his lap, this is perfect I can use Mordechai's disobedience as an excuse to set all this family feud once and for all. And because of that he doesn't want just the life you live in easy he wants to set it up so that he began an extermination of this people. This is this is an earlier holocaust in the making is this is a more ancient Hitler wants to eradicate every single Jew living which by the way, willing why Ezra is probably so thrilled to be the one chosen to give us pause right here for today and will resume this message in our next broadcast your listening to wisdom for the hearts if you'd like to interact with us, please visit wisdom online.org. We also like to hear from you personally and learn how the ministry of wisdom for the heart is blessing and encouraging you. Here's a couple notes we've received recently.

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