Do motives make a difference?

Scripture Read: Esther 9:5-10 Thus the Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying; and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. ⁶ At the citadel in Susa the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men, ⁷ and Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, ⁸ Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, ⁹ Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, ¹⁰ the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jews’ enemy; but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.  

Application: Here is the final proof that shows us this scene was not about the vindictiveness of the Jewish people. If it had been about hatred and greed, they would have killed all these folks, taken their families for slaves and taken their property for themselves. It is a bloody mess forsure, but it was “in defense of themselves” and anyone not attacking the Jews was not harmed. The ones that did attack were destroyed but the Jews did not even take their property for their own gain making a strong statement of their motive. Notice the sons of Haman apparently decided to proceed with their dead father’s plans. Lord, when we read history like this if we are not careful we can just pass through and miss all the richness and lessons You intend. There are two very clear lessons that we can see easily. 

First, our actions will reveal our motives, as the Jews left no question about their intention. It was not for gain but for defense. Whenever we do anything, the totality of the action will expose our true intent. If we have to confront someone, but when they become repentant and humble we continue to crush them, that exposes a hard heart that really wants revenge. We must control our flesh and push through with our true motive. Once the action begins, if we do not control it, sin will seize on that moment and that will leave others with a justified question concerning our motive. The second lesson is the danger of “mob mentality”. When a person gets sucked into this way of thinking they become deceived thinking everyone is in agreement with them. Now if no one stands up to that mob they will do their worst and get away with it. However, if people stand up to it, very quickly the mob leaders learn that it was not that everyone agreed with them, instead sin had grabbed hold of their thoughts and since they thought they would gain from this situation, that’s why they were following. Now that resistance and a cost are involved many in the mob come to their senses and pull out. I am sure Haman’s sons thought all Persians would join them in their destruction of the Jews, and they might have if not for what You orchestrated Lord. When they saw the power given to Mordecai by the King, many dropped out of the mob – leaving the leaders to face the wrath of their enemies. We need to be careful that when we are part of a movement, we have taken the time to count the cost and examine the intentions of that movement. Father keep us from falling victim to “mob mentality” whether it be disguised as popularity, fads or political correctness. We must stand for You even if that means standing alone.

Meditation Questions: Do you join movements before you have investigated them for yourself? What does that say? Have you ever been involved in a movement and at a certain point decided to withdrawal?  Why? When you commit yourself to something, do you take time to count the cost involved? What does that say? How do you make sure your motives are pure? What steps do you take? Why is understanding your motive so important? Does God count motive? Do you have scripture to support your answer?