Facing the Gallows

   

                Despite his young age, my son is already very much a man’s man. He lights up every time we walk into a hardware store, is glued to the TV anytime sports are on (at least for as long as an 8 month old boy can be glued to anything), and hates to wear clothing even when it is cold. Last night I walked him outside to see the gill in action for the first time. He looked at the grill for a few minutes with a very puzzled look on his face and then lunged for it. He had no idea that had I not held him tight, he would have experienced a burn for the first time. Instead, I walked him back inside and sat him down to play.

                This morning my husband and I continued our reading in Esther. When we had last stopped, there was a gallows being constructed for the intention of hanging Mordecai the Jew the next morning. Mordecai was a captive Jew in a foreign land and had made someone in the royal palace upset by not bowing down in worship to him (he did not want to worship anyone but God). Before the man in the royal palace had the chance to ask the kings permission to hang Mordecai, the king was made aware that Mordecai had uncovered a plot to kill the king and the king chose to give Mordecai a very high honor for his service. Meanwhile, the king ended up hanging the man who intended to kill Mordecai on the gallows that was intended for the Jew.

                At first I wondered what fears must have gone through Mordecai’s mind when he realized he was going to be hung in the morning, but then I realized that Mordecai had no idea of the plot to kill him until the man who devised it was already dead. I wonder how many times the Lord had kept me from danger and I have been unaware and how silly it must then look when I am aware of danger and do not trust the Lord. Do I truly believe that the Lord has everything in His control? Do I really believe that the Lord watches over me and cares for me? How should this affect my boldness in life? How should this affect my priorities?

                Lord, forgive me for any doubts that I live. Please help me to trust Your plans even when facing danger. Please help me to take comfort that You are in control. Amen.