MORDECAI

After a thorough study, the Book of Esther presents four main characters worth discussing; King Xerxes, Haman, Esther and Mordecai. In this article I will talk about the least discussed – Mordecai. Being the cousin and guardian of Esther, who became queen, he still had what I call ‘the spirit of intentional service’. You will understand as you read.

There were quite a number of opportunities Mordecai could have capitalized upon to foster his own elevation. After all, “the lizard who falls from the high Iroko tree praises itself if no one does” (Nigerian Proverb). Mordecai’s cousin was the queen, but he was still a gate keeper at the Citadel of Susa (the king’s palace). He had the opportunity to ride the king’s horse and wore the king’s robe. These two reasons alone were enough for him to exalt himself, but this man remained at the gate to serve. For me, I realized that Mordecai simply understood what he was doing and how he could be entrenched upon his elevated position when the time was right. Mordecai went through what I have classified as the ‘Three Stages of Elevation’. These are; the Knowing Stage, the Foretaste Stage (or Riding and Robing), and the Citadel Stage. I will use Mordecai’s case to explain these stages.

Knowing Stage

When Esther became the Queen, as a gate keeper, the first thought he could have nurtured was to make Esther move him to a higher position, yet, he remained at the gates. The knowing stage is when you know what the Lord has in stock for you is great, even though you have not gotten there yet. It begins to dawn on you how you could use your connections, assets, and abilities to get to where the Lord has prepared for you. It may be a position, a job, or a life changing opportunity. It was remaining at the gate and still serving that made Mordecai solicit vital information that later took him to the next stage of his elevation, unto the liberation of his people (Esther 2:21). When obtain knowledge on what the Lord wants to do with your life, don’t leave your place of service. Remain and serve, gather information, seek to know what the Lord wants you to do (Ephesians 5:17) before you think of moving. As you do this, remain at the gate – serve!

Riding and Robing

The Foretaste stage, which I also call the ‘Riding and Robing’ is when you have a feel or an experience of how your elevation could be. Mordecai was honored for being a whistle-blower against a conspiracy to kill the king. He gathered such an information when he was at the gate – when he was serving. As a result, he was remembered and honored. He wore the king’s robe and rode the king’s horse throughout the city. People knew what he had done, they praised and honored him, he was happy, he was popular, and he loved the experience. He could have called himself a town champion or a popular whistle-blower on his LinkedIn profile (if it was present) yet, after this honoring experience (which did not last), he went back to his gate to serve (Esther 6:11-12).

One deception about this stage is that it looks like your elevation but it does not last, even though you would want it to.  You would experience how it feels to get to where you want to be. You would be thrilled by the experience, but that is not your destination; it was just a foretaste. Perhaps the Lord wants you to experience it to encourage your faith and hard work. You must know the difference between honour and elevation. Honour is temporal; it comes and soon vanishes. You can’t live in the realm of honour for so long when the Lord has not elevated you yet. That you dine, talk, know and live with great people doesn’t make you great.

Citadel Stage

Finally, Mordecai was elevated to the ruling class in the king’s citadel. This happened after periods of information gathering, planning, prayers and fasting. He could have done this earlier without going through so much stress but he had his people, the Israelites in mind. He had no reason to rule if his people were in shackles. You have no reason to be great if the people whom your greatness is concerned do not benefit from you. Check the Bible, all the great people were great because of the group of people their influence served. Mordecai’s elevation was to cater for the Jews (Esther 9:3-4). You want God to make you great, will your influence serve people? Who are they?

My last words would be that God is not done elevating you. He doesn’t ignore procedures. He is going to bless you at your place of service. Will He meet you at the gate?  Mordecai had a good social network, he received an honour no one else had, but he went back to the gate to serve because he knew it wasn’t time. When the Lord blesses or honors you once, will you be eligible for another? Be like Mordecai, go back to the gate! Foretastes of blessings may look like blessings. Discern what the Lord wants for you and abide. Don’t act like you’re in the citadel when God is still not done with you at the gate.
May the Lord mend our nets!