The importance of identity

Human beings are fascinated with history. We love to record it, study it and learn from it. Previous generations studied generations before them and today we are studying the generation of our forefathers. These types of studies help us understand the world we live in, the culture we are forging and essentially where we come from and who we are. Without a proper understanding of who we are, it is difficult to know where we are going. History is necessary for understanding the genesis of things and how things were done. In life, a lack of history or knowledge about how things used to be tends to lead to a poor understanding of one’s self and culture. Identity is crucial for the human race. The fact that we can trace our existence back to Adam is great but we need a closer understanding to relate with the world around us. Our identity is better defined by God and once we grasp it, we are able to live life in a way that is much more fulfilling. The right understanding of who we are according to the Father is vital if we want to walk in obedience. This identity is what Mordecai and Esther had. Knowing that they were God’s people is what fueled their fight to remain set apart in a foreign land and preserve the survival of their race. As you continue reading, my goal is to hone in the idea that God is the one who defines us and what He says about us should determine how we conduct our lives. And we can trust that the One who defined us and called us is able to make us into who we are truly.

In the book of Esther, we learn that Mordecai, Esther’s cousin did not bow down to Haman, known as the “enemy of the Jews”. Aside from being an enemy of the Jews, he was also the highest ranking official in what was probably one of the biggest kingdoms in the world ruled by king Xerxes, Esther’s husband. This lack of honour that Haman received from Mordecai was the gravest insult he could get. Indeed, as the most elevated official in the kingdom, everyone “knelt down and paid honour to Haman” and this was a direct command from the king. So not kneeling down to Haman was a disobedience to the king’s order. All other royal officials at the king’s gate bowed down to Haman except Mordecai. Many pestered Mordecai about his behaviour and he revealed to them his identity. This, they reported to Haman. Mordecai, who told Esther to hide her true identity in the palace was not licensing cowardice. Indeed, withholding his identity was not synonymous to living an identity crisis or to living in disobedience to God. Because Mordecai was confident on who God is, who he is and what that means for his people, Mordecai knew life was not just about him. We are not privy to know why Mordecai did not keel down to Haman or pay honour to him since these were common ways of paying respect and I believe he must have done so before the king. What made him not honour Haman? Was bowing down to Haman similar to an act of worship in Mordecai’s eyes? Was it similar to Daniel’s friends refusing to bow down to king Nebuchadnezzar’s golden statue? All we know is that it was a clear-cut case of disobedience to God for Mordecai and he was not going to do it. This is boldness at its best. Leaving fearlessly for God and not for men. Mordecai conducted himself in a way the Lord expects us to conduct ourselves too. This defiant act from Mordecai put Haman in so much rage that he decided to exterminate all Jews. A hatred that is unmeasured arose in him not just against Mordecai but against all Jews everywhere. It is puzzling to see how far Haman went. As the most honoured man in the kingdom, he prided himself of his wealth, his many sons, and “all the ways the king had honoured him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials” (Esther 5:11). However, as Haman reports “but all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate” (Esther 5:13). It is quite clear that Haman had to be treated like the king himself and like a god. He wanted all people to revere and fear him and Mordecai was not about to do that. Mordecai’s only reverence was for God. Haman went ahead and brought his case to the king. As he brought the case to the king, he made the case to look favourably in the king’s interest. Indeed, the king was told about a people group whose customs are different from those of all other people and who do not obey the king’s laws (Esther 3:8). With such a case, anyone in the king’s position would not want to have that people group alive. Moreover, Haman proposed to pay money to the king for ensuring the annihilation of Jews was carried out. It was a perfectly crafted case and Haman got the signet ring from the king which was a seal certifying the approval of the king to the request. So Haman was empowered to carry out his evil plan which he immediately put in motion. A quick lesson from Haman when speaking with a person of authority is that a request made to someone in authority must be crafted in such a way to put the interests of the person of authority above your interests, at least it must be presented in such a manner. When done this way, you can be sure your request will be granted. It’s actually genius! While Haman’s plan was put in motion, upon hearing it, Mordecai went into mourning mode, he put on sackcloth and was fasting and wailing because of the predicament that was falling on the Jews. Mordecai was not wailing and humbling himself in private, he went to the entrance of the king’s gate for no one was allowed in king’s gate in sackcloth. This was a way to show how much he was in distress and alert his cousin. When the news was told to Esther, she quickly sent garments to Mordecai but he refused as though to say “this situation is a serious one. I cannot be walking around like everything is going well for the Jews”. Esther seemed to have been more concerned about the king’s rules than the concern of her people. It took her cousin’s response to remind her of her true identity, the fact that she shared in the plight of the Jewish people and ought to be concerned because her position as queen would not exempt her from the king’s decree. Once Esther understood the gravity of the situation, she too went into humbling herself before the Lord through fasting for three days and after three days, she would present herself to the king without being summoned. It is important to note that Esther had not been summoned by the king for a month and going into the king’s presence without being summoned was a risky business as it could cause your life if the king did not hand you his golden scepter as a sign of approval. Esther willing to risk her life for her people in this manner was exactly what Mordecai expected from her and in his words perhaps the reason she became queen in the first place (Esther 4:14). As soon as Esther relayed her plan to her cousin, he left the palace’s entrance and gathered the rest of the Jews in the city to pray and fast for three days. Mordecai helped Esther see that she had to look beyond herself, beyond her situation because it was not about her nor was it about him but rather about God’s salvation to the Jews. 

Far too often, like Esther, we fail to see the bigger picture in life. We get comfortable with our routine, we live lives as though we are the masters of it, we forget that we are but a tiny piece in God’s masterplan. We become too easily satisfied with the material things that only satisfy for a short period of time. We grow in love with this world rather than in love with God, our father. Meanwhile, the commands of God have not changed, we are still called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our strength (Deuteronomy 6:4); we are still commanded to not love the world or the things of the world for those who love the world are enemies of God (James 4:3). God has not changed, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. This means, He has not changed his mind concerning his commandments, what He required then, He still requires today. Our worship and adoration belong to Him alone, our lives belong to Him alone. May we not make the mistake of being so comfortable with the things of the world that Paul counted as loss (Philippians 3:8), those very things that seemed as nothing to Haman if he didn’t have the lives of the Jews, that we forget who we are as children of God. In all things, let us remember that our citizenship is first and foremost from heaven. We were made into new creatures the moment we accepted that Jesus died on the cross on our behalf to receive the punishment we deserved and gave us his righteousness and the everlasting life that is only found in him. This new status makes us a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession” in order to proclaim the excellencies of God who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). May we not lose ourselves in this world and may we walk in our true identity as Esther and Mordecai did. Amen.