How do we measure time today?

The time required by the earth to rotate once around its axis is called a day. The time required by the earth to revolve once around the sun is called a year and so on. If someone were to live on Jupiter, he or she would have a different length of time for one day or one year. So, time, as we understand it today, is relative to us earthlings.

Mordecai and the Timing of God

In the book of Esther we read of the story of how Mordecai had once saved the life of King Xerxes. Esther 6:2 reads like this:

“It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.”

Usually, when such a conspiracy is exposed, the whistle-blower, especially during the days of kings, would be greatly rewarded. Surprisingly, Mordecai did not receive any such reward. He must have been disappointed. But with hindsight we now realize that God had a purpose in Mordecai not being rewarded then. Pay attention to the amazing timing of God.

We know of Haman’s plot to kill Mordecai. He had gallows prepared, seventy-five feet high, for Mordecai. He only needed permission from the king to execute his plan. He decided to ask for permission the next morning. But that night… the timing of God… the king could not sleep. So guess what he does? He asks his servants to bring the book of chronicles – the record of his reign – to be brought in and to be read to him. (I assume that history was boring to people even back then. The king thought the reading of a history book would put him to sleep.) But the sovereign hand of God that orchestrates events, places, people and timing… brought a particular fact to the attention of the king.

The particular fact that we are talking about is the fact that Mordecai had saved the life of the king from an assassination attempt and that nothing had been done for him. So, the king decided to honour Mordecai for the great help. Bad timing on the part of Haman… because he is the one to whom the question is put: “What should be done for the man the king delights to honour?” The man who plotted the death of Mordecai was forced to lead the honour-parade for Mordecai.

It was good that Mordecai was not rewarded earlier by the king, wasn’t it? If the king had rewarded Mordecai before, he must have given him a bag of gold or something like that. But when the right time had come for God to honour Mordecai, God honoured Mordecai through the king in a way that Mordecai could never have imagined.

God knows the right time for us. Do not be disappointed if you have not received the recognition, accolade, award, promotion, or the raise that you think you are due.

God has his time… and His time is always perfect. Your job is to trust Him and walk with Him in humility. At this moment in time, I Peter 5:6 offers us this promise,

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up IN DUE TIME.”