CAC Living Water Daily Devotional – Never Say, It Can’t Work Here (II)

CAC Living Water Daily Devotional | Monday, October 11, 2021 | Never Say, It Can’t Work Here (II)

Topic: Never Say, It Can’t Work Here (II)

Read: Esther 2:7-11

Esther 2:7-11  And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.

So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.

And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women’s house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.

MEMORISE:

And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter (Esther 2:7)

EXPOSITION

Joseph remains a challenge to us regarding standing for God’s holiness in foreign lands; an indictment on those claiming that avoiding sexual sin can’t work in foreign lands. Today, we want to learn from the attitude of Mordecai to godly child-upbringing in a foreign land. The Benjamite Mordecai was one of those exiled to Babylon. He was divinely favoured to be in the king’s palace as a gateman. Nothing is said of his own children, but we are challenged by his attitude toward his niece, Esther, an orphan who was also with him in exile.

That Mordecai brought up Hadassah, a girl child, even as today is the International Day of the Girl Child, in the way of Yahweh is implied in the account of their relationship in the book of Esther (v. 7). Instead of abusing this young woman who was lovely and beautiful, added to the fact that she was vulnerable, being an orphan, he gave her proper upbringing. Mordecai didn’t say that God’s injunction to His people regarding godly upbringing of their children (Deut. 6:1ff; Prov. 22:6) couldn’t work in that difficult exilic condition. We can conveniently say that he instructed, disciplined and supervised Esther as the need arose (vv. 10,11; 4:13ff). It was difficult representing what it meant to stand for Yahweh in Persia then, as seen in how God’s name isn’t mentioned in the book of Esther. Yet, Mordecai defied the odds to bring up Esther in God’s way.

Where are you living presently? Is proper up bringing in terms of chastising/rebuke (Prov. 13:24; 22:15; 23:13,14; 26:3; 29:15) somehow downplayed or even legislated against where you are? Would God or the consequences of poor upbringing excuse you because you live in the land of licentiousness? If Lot was able to raise 2 chaste daughters in that most corrupt foreign land (Gen. 19:8a), should you do less? Don’t raise monsters who would come back to consume you.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Lord, help me not to compromise Your standard for training my children.

2. I break lose from the ‘It-doesn’t-matter’ attitude ravaging so many parents in relation to their children’s upbringing, in Jesus’ name.

3. Lord Jesus, thwart all policies the devil is bringing up among nations to bastardize proper upbringing of children and raise more monsters in the society.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Isaiah 16:10 – 21:6; Philippians 1:10 – 2:1

Author: Christ Apostolic Church  [Worldwide]