To Bow or Not To Bow

Esther 3:1–2 (ESV) After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.

To bow or not to bow. That dilemma has faced the people of God in different ways in all generations. Sometimes we cry persecution over the smallest of inconveniences. But we should examine the Bible. So far, Esther has been taken into the King's harem without consent while Mordecai lives in exile from his homeland powerless to save her from this event. What comes next is the result of Mordecai's first act in civil disobedience. Haman the Agagite has been promoted to a place of honor. As a result, the people bow before him. But Mordecai will not.

And you wonder, why does Mordecai choose this moment to act in defiance of Persian law? Could it be the words of Torah?

Exodus 23:24 (ESV) you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces.

Did Mordecai believe Haman perceived himself as some form of Persian diety and therefore deserved no "worship"? That's not in the text. But we could suggest Mordecai knows where Haman descends from. He's from Agag, the king of the Amalekites whom Saul spared but Samuel put to death in 1 Samuel 15.

1 Samuel 15:9 (ESV) Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

Why did Saul spare Agag? Because Saul wanted a trophy from his victory. In other words, Saul wanted a "name for himself" in the triumph over his enemies. And perhaps Mordecai saw in Haman what he read about in Saul. That those who seek glory and honor among men are not in line with the Lord's heart. The true king will be humble and meek. 

Whatever the case, we know that in our world, when people stand alone in standing up, the powers that be will respond. And Haman does so in a vicious way. 

Esther 3:5–6 (ESV) And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

Haman did not just want to kill Mordecai, he wanted to kill all the Jews. Why? Perhaps he knew the history as well. And who were these exiles to refuse to worship their conqueror? Haman sets about a plan to persuade Xerxes into signing off on their destruction and the table is set for Esther's intervention. 

Now the chapter ends with the edict being dispersed and Haman sitting in comfort.

Esther 3:15 (ESV) The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

And you have to see in this moment a picture of what godless, self-seeking governments do. They only serve themselves while the people suffer. Haman is a picture of the anti-Christ. A world leader who doesn't care about the confusion his self-centered leanings cause for the regular people. 

To that kind of king, we MUST not bow! Not ever. Why? Because our King is in heaven and He humbled Himself and served! Our king was not spared but willingly allowed Himself to be put to death for us. Our king stood silent before His accusers to silence the accuser's voice in our ears! The only King worthy of our submission is He.