“보라 네 왕이 네게 임하시나니”(스가랴 9:9)

March 30, 2025
Mordecai Did Not Kneel Down
Esther 3:1-15

The Jewish people who were exiled to Babylon returned to their homeland in three waves, with approximately 90,000 making their way back. However, there were still many more Jews who remained in exile. The Book of Esther tells the story of events that happened to these people.

Chapters 1 and 2 describe how Queen Vashti was dethroned and how Esther became queen. In chapter 3, we are introduced to a man named Haman. Haman was the second most powerful person in Persia at the time, and his authority was so immense that he commanded people to bow before him.

Mordecai, however, refused to bow to Haman, openly declaring his Jewish identity. This enraged Haman, who then devised a plan—not just to punish Mordecai but to annihilate the entire Jewish people. When Haman requested permission from the king, the king recklessly granted it, essentially approving the genocide of an entire nation without careful consideration. This reveals the king’s irresponsibility and lack of leadership in handling such a crucial matter.

But why didn’t Mordecai bow to Haman? And why did Haman, instead of punishing only Mordecai, seek to exterminate the entire Jewish people? Was it simply because Mordecai was trying to obey the Ten Commandments, which forbid bowing to idols? The Bible contains examples where bowing as a sign of respect to a king was not considered idolatry.

The real reason lies in the historical conflict between their two peoples. Haman was an Agagite, a descendant of Agag, who was the king of the Amalekites. Meanwhile, Mordecai was a Jew. There was a deep-rooted enmity between these two nations. The very first battle the Israelites fought after the Exodus was against the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8).

Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, God commanded them never to forget the treacherous and deceitful acts of the Amalekites and to completely erase their memory from under heaven (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). Later, during the time of the prophet Samuel, King Saul was given an opportunity to fulfill this command by utterly destroying the Amalekites. However, Saul disobeyed God’s command—he spared King Agag and kept the best livestock instead of completely wiping them out (1 Samuel 15:1-9).

Haman was well aware of this history, and to him, Mordecai’s defiance was not just an individual act of disobedience but a challenge from an entire nation. Though more than 500 years had passed from Saul’s time to the time of Esther, the Amalekite enemy had not disappeared.

Our enemies are always watching for an opportunity to strike. We may think that our struggles come from our present circumstances, but in reality, they often stem from the internal "Amalekites" within us—those persistent, destructive forces that continue to make us stumble.

What is your Amalek? If we do not recognize the Amalek within us, we will keep fighting the wrong battles, falling, and suffering defeats. Do we have the determination to fight and overcome? If we continuously fall before our inner Amalek, our families and loved ones will also suffer, and even our churches will be shaken.

The most important battle is the one that takes place within us—where no one else sees or knows. We must overcome the Amalekites that stir up darkness in our lives. The power of the Holy Spirit will give us victory.

1. The fight has not ended yet

Our war against Amalek will continue until the day we die. I pray that you will fight this battle faithfully and emerge victorious until the day you meet the Lord.

Application Questions

1. Do you have recurring struggles in your life that make you feel weary and discouraged? Take a moment to reflect—are there hidden, personal battles within you, like the Amalekites in the story, that only you are aware of?

Let’s take five minutes to meditate on this and write down any personal struggles or inner conflicts you recognize. If you feel comfortable, you can share them with others. If not, simply keep them for yourself.

2. Now, think about how you would fight against these inner struggles when they arise again in the future. Write down a specific and practical action plan for overcoming these challenges. The more concrete and achievable your plan, the better. If you feel led, share your thoughts with someone you trust.

Application Activity

1. Let’s sing "Fight My Battle" together. As we sing, let’s declare that those who believe in Jesus can overcome. Then, bring your personal struggles—your inner "Amalekites"—before the Lord in prayer, asking Him for the strength to overcome.