4 May | Youth
«Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”» Esther 6:3
Carl Brashear joined the US Navy at a time when racism was prevalent in the country. He faced prejudice from his instructor and his white classmates. With courage and determination, he became the first African American Master Diver in the United States Navy, and his story inspired the film Men of Honor. Brashear was a man of honor, as he was trustworthy and paid a high price for his convictions.
In ancient Persia, Mordecai was such a man. An exiled Jew, he raised an orphan girl, Esther, who became queen of the empire. Mordecai once uncovered a plot to assassinate King Ahasuerus. He told Esther who, in turn, informed the king, and the two conspirators were investigated and hanged. Mordecai's attitude was recorded in the royal archives, but he did not receive any reward. The story was forgotten until Providence awakened the king's memory.
One specific night, King Ahasuerus could not sleep and asked his servants to read him the book in which the heroic acts of his reign were recorded. When they read about Mordecai's deed, the king asked his servants what reward he had received at that time. Then he was told that nothing had been done.
At that moment, Haman was in the palace courtyard with the intention of asking the king for permission to hang Mordecai. The king then sent for Haman and asked him what should be done to the man he wanted to honor. Haman assumed he would be honored, so he advised the king to dress the man in his royal robes and place him on his horse, with the royal crown upon his head. Meanwhile, the princes of the kingdom would go ahead proclaiming that the king was honoring this man.
The king approved the suggestion and told Haman that he would be responsible for proclaiming that Mordecai was the man honored by the king. End of the story: Haman was hanged on the gallows prepared for Mordecai. And Mordecai was promoted to occupy Haman's position.
Did you do something admirable, and no one recognized it? Rest assured because the Eternal One wrote it down in His book. At the right time you will be honored!