The King Honors Mordecai

King Ahasuerus could not sleep. He was king over the people in a very large area of Persia. You might think that ruling over all those people would make him tired, but still on this particular night, he just couldn't get to sleep.

He called for the records of all the things he had done as king to be read to him. "Maybe that will relax me so I can sleep," he thought.

One of the things that was read told how Mordecai, a Jew, had overheard two of the king's servants planning to kill the king. Of course Mordecai told the king's guards, the servants were arrested and the king's life was saved.

"What was done to reward and honor Mordecai for his actions" the king asked.

"Nothing was ever done, your majesty," they replied.

"Who of my chief aids is in the court" the king asked.

"Haman is in the outer court," they answered.

"Bring him in right away," the king ordered.

Haman was a very evil person. He thought he was so important that he had made a law that whenever he walked by, all people were to bow down before him. Mordecai knew this wasn't right, so he refused to do it. This made Haman very angry.. He had tricked the king into making a law that all Jews were to be killed just so he would have an excuse to kill Mordecai.

As soon as Haman came into where the king was, the king asked, "What should be done for someone who pleases the King?"

Haman's chest puffed out with pride. "Who would the king want to honor more than me," he thought.

"This is what should be done" he replied. "Take a robe that the king himself has worn and put it on that person. Seat him on one of the king's own horses and place a crown on his head. Then have one the most noble princes lead the horse through the city crying 'This is how the king honors one who pleases him.' "

"That is just the right thing to do" replied the king. "Haman, go do all you have said for Mordecai the Jew."

"Mordecai!" Haman thought. "I have to honor the man who refuses to bow down to me? I have to honor the man I am trying to kill. How embarrassing! How humiliating!" But Haman did all the king commanded him to do.

Mordecai had done what pleased God, and God saw to it that he was honored, even by his enemies. When YOU do what pleases God, He will honor you too.

by Larry Platt

ã 1995