Article: Unmerited Favour of god | Feba Varghese

Esther 10:3

“Mordecai the Jew was second in rank only to King Xerxes himself. He was honoured and well liked by his fellow-Jews. He worked for the good of his people and for the security of all their descendants.”

When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took King Jehoiachin of Judah into exile from Jerusalem, along with a group of captives, Mordecai was among them. Mordecai and his cousin Esther were exiles living in the kingdom of King Xerxes and most probably they were people of very less priority in that place. But God showed amazing favour in their life to raise them up to become honoured in a foreign land. The journey of Esther being a queen and Mordecai made next in rank to the King from their former state of being captives is a story of the amazing favour of God in the life of His children.

• Esther: Captive to Queen

Esther was a beautiful young woman probably brought in with her parents or relatives as a captive to the kingdom of Xerxes. Having lost her parents at a very young age, she was adopted by her uncle Mordecai who brought her up as his own daughter. But God had much greater plans for her life. Despite being from a low esteemed family, Esther was admired by everyone who saw her and she found special favour among the palace officials of King Xerxes.

^“Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favour and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.” – Esther 2: 17

The king liked her more than any of the other women, and more than any of the others she won his favour and affection. He placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen. From a state of being captive, God showed great favour in Esther’s life as He blessed her to be the Queen of the land. Esther may not even have dreamt to be a queen a few years ago, but as God worked in her life, doors were opened and she found favour in the eyes of people around her.

• Mordecai: Captive to Administrative Official

Meanwhile, Mordecai finds favour to be appointed by the king to an administrative position in the palace although he was a captive from a foreign land. God uses this position of Mordecai to enable him to save the life of King from an assassination plot and God honours him to be mentioned in the official records of the empire book of records of the king. Although this incident was forgotten by the king, God disturbs the sleep of King Xerxes and he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. And Mordecai was robed in royal dress and he was led on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming honour to him.

“That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him.  It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.” – Esther 6:1,2

It’s so amazing to note here that God disturbed the sleep of the king just to honour and bring favour to his child, Mordecai!

• Esther: Intercessor for the People of God

Esther gets to know from her uncle that the life of the people of God are at danger and he told her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.  Now, this was a very tricky situation for Esther as any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. However, Esther decides not to keep silent at this time and she realizes that God would have raised her up to this position for such a time as this! Now, that’s really a brave decision and it wouldn’t have been easy at all for her to take that step putting her life at stake. But God again shows His amazing favour in her life and the king was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand.

“When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.” – Esther 5:2

• Mordecai: Saved from Enemy’s trap to become Next in rank to King!

In the background of all these amazing favours on Mordecai and Esther, the enemy was certainly not pleased! Haman, the evil man was filled with rage and he set up a huge pole to hang Mordecai on it. The funny thing here is that Mordecai was not even aware of this plan when he travelled with Haman the following day under the direction of the king. God’s amazing favour continued to follow Mordecai and God turned the plate of the evil one such that Haman himself was hanged on the pole set up for Mordecai.

Its great to know that God favours his children and works for us even though many times we are not even fully aware of the enemy’s plans. God further blesses Mordecai so much that the king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate. Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.

• You and Me: Normal to Extraordinary

Esther and Mordecai were normal people who were used amazingly by God through His unmerited favour. Today, as we look at ourselves, we may feel really small and weak and it might be even difficult for us to conceive an idea of God doing great things through us. Sometimes, it so difficult to remember that we have a caring, loving, merciful and super powerful God! Our God is the same yesterday, today and forevermore! The same God of Esther and Mordecai is ready to lavish His favour and love on us, can we grab it in faith?

Of course, Mordecai and Esther didn’t have a life in a bed of roses. They had to put their very lives at risk to stand for the people of God. But as they took their step in faith despite all struggles, God was with them through it all. He showered His amazing love and favour on them to let them shine for Him! Let’s proclaim in faith that His favour is on us as we step out in faith…

“And I, I don’t want to leave a legacy
I don’t care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I, I’ve only got one life to live
I’ll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus”

— Casting Crowns – Only Jesus