“When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city and wailed loudly and bitterly” (Esth 4:1).
There is a sadistic irony in the description of Haman’s promotion by the king (Esth 3:1-2) following immediately on the heels of Mordecai’s good deed (Esth 2:21-23). A Jewish man saves the king’s life (Esth 2:21-23) and the king rewards this good deed by signing a decree to destroy Mordecai and the Jews!
The Bible does not describe a “pie in the sky religion” nor does it teach a prosperity gospel. It’s all about “faith under fire,” and situations all of us can relate to because they are true to life. As it turns out, a Jewish doctor did save Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7 massacre. The reward for this doctor’s good deed was the murder of the doctor’s own nephew along with 1200 others on October 7. Such horrific injustice in the world can really shake our faith. Where is God in all this? Why do the wicked prosper?
The wicked will only prosper for a season.
In the midst of Israel’s national tragedy (i.e., the promotion of Haman, the enemy of the Jews), the author of Esther encourages us not to lose our faith in God and in the hope of his promises. The author embeds a very important clue in the text that all will turn out well in the end. The phrase “Mordecai tore his clothes” is borrowed nearly word for word from the story of Joseph. “Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; SO HE TORE HIS CLOTHES” (Gen 37:29). Given the many other allusions to the Joseph story in the book of Esther, we can be certain the reuse of this unique phrase is intentional as well as strategic. Although we mourn the promotion of Haman and the tragic circumstances which befall the Jews, the parallel to the story of Joseph assures us God will raise this second Joseph (Mordecai) from the pit of despair and through him deliver his people.
Because God is sovereign and faithful, the wicked will only prosper for a season. All the wrongs will be righted, and the story of redemption will most certainly have a happy ending!
“Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper. You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, that my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever” (Ps 30:10-12).
