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Why is it when we have 10 cookies in our hand, the only thing we see is the 2 in our brother’s hand? Why is the last piece of pizza always the most delicious? Why is the best car the one we left on the lot?

There’s something in us that can be never be satisfied with having; we must get. It’s the successful hunt, the thrill of acquisition, the joy of adding one more marble to the sack. The grass is always a better shade of greenliness in the next lawn.

There are few men in the Bible who show this tendency more clearly than our good pal Haman. Now here was a man who literally had (almost) everything. He was wealthy, he was the best bud of the most powerful man in the world, he had supportive and homicidal friends, and a wife who knew that a gallows is the answer to all of life’s problems. What more could any man ask for?

THE BUR IN HAMAN’S SADDLE

Apparently the unquestioning obedience of a minor civil servant. One man who wouldn’t give Haman his props, and all the rest of his possessions and power meant nothing. And let’s not forget, Mordecai didn’t rally a mob or raise the banner of revolt; he wore ratty clothes and sat in garbage. But that wasn’t enough for Haman.

The truth is, there will always be something that prevents our lives from being “perfect.” No matter how many degrees we get, how high in the organization we advance, how fast we can run, how many hot dogs we can eat in a minute, there will always be somebody better. We can either be happy for what we have, or be miserable for what we don’t.

SAY WHEN

John D. Rockefeller, arguably the wealthiest man who has ever lived in America, was once asked how much money it would take to make someone happy. His answer: “Just a little more.” Ole J-Rock knew the truth; having the most money in the world means nothing. You just want the little that you don’t. (Ask King David).

Haman was focused only on the thing he couldn’t control. When he was elevated to the highest position in the land, he saw only the Jews. When he managed to find a way to get rid of all the Jews, he saw only the one man who didn’t submit fast enough. He let his obsessive for power and control determine his actions.

And in the end, he lost everything.

There’s nothing better than a good theological debate, unless of course we count the good ole MLT. But seeing as mutton is sometimes hard to come by, we can all agree that two wise men stepping into the theological squared circle is the next best thing. Unfortunately, the Bible comes along every once in while and dashes our hopes of seeing a debating 10-count.

Take today’s reading, for example. Mordecai finds out about Haman’s plan to destroy the Jews, and starts in with the mourning. From deep within the confines of the royal harem, Esther hears about Mordecai’s wailing and sackcloth ensemble and sends messengers to and fro to find out what’s going on. Mordecai informs her that she must go to the king and save the lives of her people.

As Esther understandably balks at this suicidal plan, Mordecai prompts her with one of the great one-sentence theologies in the whole Bible. He tells her that “if you keep silent, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place,” but who knows what will happen to you?

TWO MINUTES TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM GENEVA

Anyone who reads church history will no doubt know about the historical and on-going debate between Arminianism and Calvinism. There has always been tension in the Christian faith between the complex ideas of God’s absolute sovereignty and and the extent of free will. How much of our lives are in God’s hands, and how much is our own choice? Are we responsible for what happens to us, or does God have everything pre-arranged?

Mordecai seems to say that this is the wrong question to be asking.  Instead of worrying about if we have free choice over every aspect of our lives, we should trust that God’s will is going to be done and look to see how we can be a part of it. Mordecai fully recognizes both sides of the debate in this passage, with no apparent mental conflict. God’s will (deliverance for the Jews) will be accomplished. If Esther wants to be the instrument of that, so be it. If not, God will use someone else, but His Will will come regardless.

LITTLE FROM COLUMN A, LITTLE FROM COLUMN B

An understanding of this simultaneous reality (and it’s admittedly difficult to get a hold of) can be greatly freeing in our walk with Christ. Maybe our prayers should focus more on knowing God’s Will, instead of praying about all the bad stuff that could happen. God’s will may be inevitable, but He gives us the choice of being a part of it. It’s a pre-determined freedom of choice.

What will you choose today?

Is there anything better than a good excuse? How many movies have you seen revolve around some sort of excuse that gets out of hand? Like the time-honored favorite, Mr. Ripped and Miss Purty have to get married immediately lest one or both get deported, and somehow despite completely hating each other to begin with, they miraculously come together and find true love in their sham marriage. The more convoluted a path and the more excuses it takes to get there, the better.

Why are we so interested in the complex? Why do we have to come up with myriad (*word of the day alert*) reasons for any action? When do we lose our child-like honesty and forthrightness?

**Flashback to childhood**
Child 1: Hey, my dad asked me to help rake leaves. Wanna help?
Child 2: Nah, I’d rather go play.
**end flashback**

EXCUSE ME

Unfortunately, this abstract excusosity* blossoms as we grow into adulthood, and not always in a good way. If some friends are going to a questionable movie, and you know you shouldn’t go, what do you say?

a) “Nah, I have a lot of work to do tonight.”
b) “That’s ok, I heard it wasn’t that funny.”
c) “I can’t, the Batphone is ringing. The commissioner needs me.”

On the other hand, look at Mordecai’s response in Esther 3. Why doesn’t Mordecai bow to Haman? He is a Jew. He belongs to God, pure and simple. He won’t do what he knows he shouldn’t. Notice he doesn’t say he has a bad back, or that he bowed at the office; he flat out says the reason.  It’s a freeing thing when you know who you are and whose you are.  All the ambiguity starts slipping away.

CAN I GET BACK TO YOU?

What if we did that?

Friend: Why don’t you go the movie tonight?
You: I’m a Christian.

Co-Worker: Why would you leave America and go do mission work overseas?”
You: I’m a Christian.

Spuds MacKenzie: Why don’t you go to the bar with the rest of us?
You: I’m a Christian.  And I hate dogs.

This isn’t to say that we should be self-righteous or more-awesome-than-thou, but we should be able to say directly, I don’t do this thing, I don’t go there, I don’t watch that – because I follow Christ.

Isn’t that reason enough?

* Yes, I know it’s not a word. But it should be.