Esther, Pt. 3: "The Power Game" (Est 3)

THE POWER GAME (ESTHER 3)
I am highly suspicious of people in power and with power, from politicians to pastors. My low regard and utter disdain for power can be traced to the power game and the power struggle I have witnessed. The church I was a part of as a youth had a heartbreaking split every three years or so. The seminary I attended had a shameful power battle over the selection of a new president. I had also served in a church after the founder ran off with the pianist. I attended a board meeting where a power-grabbing board member threw a pencil on the table and scolded the senior pastor of being “mean, despicable, and classless卑鄙，賤格，下溜.”

Sadly the church is not much different from other organizations. Churches, boards, seminaries, organizations and ministries break up over the issue of who is in charge and who calls the shots. Power struggles happen in companies, churches, communities, cities, counties and countries. Often people claim they should have the power and be in charge since they have invested more treasures, spent more time, are more talented, have more troops for the task at hand. They wrest for control over policy, programs, projects, procedures, plans and people. The problem never ends. A church leader told me that once the power brokers are gone other people quickly fill into the power vacuum.

Unfortunately, the mighty are more admired than the meek. Some people are the nicest brother and the closest friend until power rests in their hands. Power corrupts princes, politicians, paupers, pastors, pals and people. Ironically, much of what I have learned in ministry comes from avoiding and shunning all the bad examples and practices.

The Jews peaceful existence in Babylon was shattered in a big way. The newly-promoted Haman the Agaite wanted to make the Jews pay for disrespecting him. He could afford to do that because he was acclaimed the second most powerful person in the country besides the king.

Does man’s power serve God’s purpose? How should Christians properly and sensibly use the influence and power over people in their hands?

Power Without Compassion is Distortion
3:1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. 3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew. (Est 3:1-4)

One of the world’s richest and most powerful man and his wife, along with singer Bono, were the surprised recipients of Time magazine’s “Persons of the Year” award in 2005. The unlikely couple was Bill and Melinda Gates, co-founders of the world’s wealthiest charitable foundation. Bill and Melinda, the magazine notes, “spent the year giving more money away faster than anyone ever has.”

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation committed $750 million to improving access to child immunizations, accelerating introduction of new vaccines and strengthening vaccine delivery systems. The foundation focuses on education, global health, improving public libraries and supporting at-risk families. They awarded grants to schools in Texas, Colorado and Massachusetts, as well as the Lutheran World Relief program, which received $640,000 to help nomadic communities in Niger avert food crises.

According to Wikipedia, the Foundation has also pledged over $7 billion to its various causes, including $1 billion to the United Negro College Fund; and as of 2005, had an estimated endowment of $29.0 billion. Gates has spent about a third of his lifetime income on charity. A 2004 Forbes magazine article, Gates gave away over $29 billion to charities from 2000 onwards.

Power must be tampered with compassion. Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matt 23:11). People with power but no compassion have a distorted view of their worth, their abilities and their contribution. Christians do not talk about power, they talk about responsibility. Power is nothing without compassion.

Like most power-hungry people, Haman confused the power of the person with the power of the office. Power to him was about recognition, respect and reward. Note that Haman’s power was entrusted, given or bestowed (v 1), but he was caught up with consolidating his position, enjoying the praise and receiving the perks. People like Haman get easily offended and outraged when their role and right are challenged.

Haman did not see that his power was relative; he had a seat (v 1) above all the nobles but still it was just a seat. There is nothing special about the seat. He had a hot seat, not a royal seat, which properly belonged to the king (Est 3:1, 5:1). This word “seat” occurs three times in the book, twice referring to the king’s throne (1:2, 3:1, 5:1). Haman’s seat was just a regular chair, if you may, not a throne. One day that chair will be given to another. By the end of the book, Mordecai would surpass Haman in greatness (Est 10:2).

The Chinese say, “There is always a higher mountain一山還有一山高” and “Above a man is another man; above a mountain is another mountain人上有人，山上有山.”

Power is a gift, not a game. It is a responsibility, not a right. The biggest test of power is to ask yourself who are you and what you have without power, position and privilege in life. Would you still be the same person without the office and the opportunity?

Haman failed the test big time when Mordecai did not bow down or pay him honor. His priorities and pride were misplaced. Instead of serving the people, he wanted to be served. Instead of dealing with big things and seeing the big picture, he was bothered by minor things. Mordecai got under his skin with so little. Why Haman was bothered with a nobody was beyond comprehension. The proverbial dog can bark at the moon and sun with all its might; it doesn’t change a thing. Haman did not act in the interest of the country or people, but himself. It was not personal on Mordecai’s part; he would not bow or worship the king either. The king was obviously not bothered by a person’s religious belief. It was a religious belief, not a personal dislike.

“Kneel down” (v 2) means kneeling, but it also has to do with allegiance and alliance (1 Kings 19:18). It could be a social bow without the religious connotation, as others did before Elijah (2 Kings 1:13). The latter – “pay honor” -has a stronger religious connotation (Ex 20:5). Mordecai’s disobedience is not the same as taking the law into one’s own hands or breaking the law. Apparently, the king’s command was not a law punishable by offense; it was a social etiquette or greeting. If it were, the royal officials would usher him to the gallows immediately and not speak to him daily about it (v 4).

Power Without Control is Dangerous
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. (Est 3:5-6)

Most of Southern California residents must have heard of the Swedish nut who crashed his sports car in Malibu. What made it news was that he was driving a $1-million Ferrari Enzo at 162 mph when it hit a telephone pole, splitting the car into two and leaving a 1,200-foot debris trail on the road.
(“We can’t help but gawk at the Ferrari wreck,” Los Angeles Times, 5/5/2006)

The highly coveted Ferrari was one of only 400 Enzos made. Pope John Paul II received one as a ceremonial gift. The Enzo is capable of topping out at 218 mph with a V12 engine modeled on those in Ferrari’s Formula One racers.

According to Wikipedia, The Enzo Ferrari, sometimes referred to as the F60, is a 6-speed automated manual, 12-cylinder Ferrari supercar named after the company’s founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fiber body, F1-style sequential shift transmission and carbon-ceramic brake discs. Also used are technologies such as active aerodynamics. After a maximum downforce of 1709 pounds is reached at 186 mph (301 km/h) the rear spoiler is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.

The Enzo was initially announced at the 2002 Paris Motor Show, priced at US$643,330. All 349 cars were sold before production began. Later, after numerous requests, Ferrari decided to build 50 more Enzos. The Enzo can accelerate to 100 km/h (62.5 mph) in 3.30 seconds and can reach 100 mph in 6.60 seconds. The ¼ mile (0.4 km) time is 10.80 seconds and the top speed is 220 mph + (360km/h).

For all Ferrari’s clout, power without control is a wreck.

When Haman knew about Mordecai’s actions, he was enraged. He was enraged, or in Hebrew - filled with rage. The Hebrew word for anger occurs six times in the book, four times for the king’s anger, rage or fury (Est 1:12, 2:1, 7:7, 7:10) and twice for Haman’s, with a twist. Whenever the king was angry, he was merely enraged or furious. Whenever Haman was angry, the Hebrew text notes that he was not just raging, but “filled with rage” (Est 3:5, 5:9), with emphasis on the word “filled.” Not even the drunken king was that angry with Vashti’s refusal to obey (Est 1:12). Fire clouded Haman’s eyes, singed his eyebrows and blackened his face. His rage was full to capacity, head to toe and over the top.

Another thing about Haman’s anger remarkably different from the king’s anger was that twice the Hebrew text notes that the king’s anger later subsided (Est 2:1, 7:10). On the other hand, Haman’s anger was an anger that lingered, lengthened and lasted. The king was harsh, but Haman was hateful. The former was furious, the latter was fuming. One had a temper, the other had a tantrum. Xerxes was irritated and irked, but Haman was incensed, infuriated, indignant and irate. The king was offended but Haman was outraged. Haman was controlled and consumed by his rage. It did not stop until he had destroyed others who dared to upset or cross him.

A powerful person with a short fuse and a long memory is a dangerous person. He becomes small-minded, thin-skinned, and tight-chested (心胸窄). All he could think of is revenge, getting back, making others suffer.

Power Without Conscience is Destructive
7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, they cast the pur (that is, the lot) in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed and scattered among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom whose customs are different from those of all other people and who do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will put ten thousand talents of silver into the royal treasury for the men who carry out this business.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.” (Est 3:-7-11)

A rabbi once asked his five disciples: “What is the most desirable thing to strife for in life?’ One said, “A good eye.” The second said, “A good friend.” The next answered, “A good neighbor.” Another said, “Wisdom to foretell the future.” The last said, “A good heart.”

The rabbi then said, “The last one pleased me most, because his thought includes all the rest.” Then the rabbi asked, “What is the thing that man should avoid most in life?”

The first said, “An evil eye.” Another said, “An evil friend.” The next said, “A bad neighbor.” The fourth said, “One who borrows money and doesn’t return it.” The last said, “A bad heart.”

The rabbi then said, “The last one pleases me most because his thoughts include all of yours.”

A powerful man without conscience is a barbarian, a destroyer and a monster. He takes no prisoners, scorches the earth, leaves no survivors and plunders the spoils.

Haman was not satisfied or content with punishing Mordecai alone, he had to punish his family, race and everyone associated with him. The Hebrew text specified all the Jews in all or throughout the kingdom (v 6) and all the provinces (v 8). The word “annihilate” in verse 13 is the same word for the ruin that happened to Egypt (Ex 10:7). Haman could have told the king about Mordecai to get him in trouble and end the story, but he had to get back with the vilest means and the strongest strike possible.

The word “scorned” or “despised” (v 6) is not lightly used or felt. That is the word for Esau despising his birthright (Gen 25:34) and the regular word for despising people such as Saul (1 Sam 10:27) and David (1 Sam 17:42, 2 Sam 6:16) and people despising the Lord (1 Sam 2:30, 2 Sam 12:10) and His commandment (2 Sam 12:9). It is not just dislike but disdain, not just disrespect but detest, and not annoyed but abhorred. His personal loathing for Mordecai had spilled on to other areas and other people. There is no envy, only evil, in Haman. The funny thing was Haman never talked to Mordecai; it was so impersonal that it became personal. They had not met or spoken; Mordecai was not even his rival or equal, but now he had become Haman’s greatest enemy. It’s been said, “You compete with greater people, not lesser people.”

Haman was consumed with looking or seeking (v 6) for a way to destroy the Jews. The word for looking is the regular word for seeking for the Lord (Ex 33:7, Deut 4:29). It had become a religion with Haman to destroy the Jews. More than that, this word has a rich history for the greatest rivalry and pursuit in Israel’s history. This word is used more than ten times for Saul’s relentless pursuit of David. (1 Sam 19:10, 20:1, 22:23, 23:10, 23:14, 23:15, 23:25, 26:2, 26:20, 27:1, 27:4)

The king’s advisor was so outraged that he offered outrageous out-of-pocket money to get rid of the Jews. 10,000 talents of silver was more than enough money to pay for a country’s tribute (1 Chron 19:6-7); it was even enough to pay a mercenary army to fight a war (2 Chron 25:5-6). Haman’s collateral damage included women and children (v 13), involved or uninvolved.

Another thing interesting was how Haman stopped at nothing to achieve his goal. He modified or reinterpreted Mordecai’s actions and twisted the king’s words. Haman told Xerxes that people like Mordecai broke the law or decree (v 8), or “dath” in Hebrew. A careful look at Mordecai’s actions reveals that he broke the king’s command, “tsavah” in Hebrew (v 3), and not law, which is a world of difference. A command was an instruction, a directive or an order, but a law was an edict, a decree and a ruling. The former was unofficial, informal and practical, but the latter was legal, binding and sanctioned.

Conclusion: Christians are as vulnerable as anyone to the corruption of power. If you are not convinced look at what the marriage of church and state did to the Roman Catholic Church in history. Power comes with accountability, responsibility and character. Only God’s power is great (Mark 13:26, Rev 11:17), eternal (Rom 1:20) and divine (2 Peter 1:3). God did not give us a spirit of power, but a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline (2 Tim 1:7). Finally, God’s grace is sufficient for you (2 Cor 12:8-9), because power, like money, is never enough. Lord Acton will forever be remembered for the most famous saying on power: “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Is your power tempered with accountability and character? Do you seek to lead or seek to serve, treasure leadership or service? Are you honest, humble and honorable with people?