Have you ever felt like you were the only one serving God? Perhaps you are the only one in your family that is a Christian? Are you the only person at work who is a Christian? When we feel alone, it can be challenging to remain faithful to God, but we still need to do it (I Cor. 15:58; Rev. 2:10b).

You might find it ironic for me to say that if you are the only one who is serving God in your immediate family, or at your job, etc., you are not alone! Yet, this is true. God catalogs several who served Him and had to do it alone.

Joseph was one who served God alone. After being sold to Potiphar (Gen. 39), he prospered in the house. However, there came a day when Potiphar’s wife lusted after him and tried seducing him “day by day.” However, Joseph would not yield to the temptation (Gen. 39:7-13; I Jn. 2:15-17; I Cor. 6:18). No doubt, he felt alone, but thankfully, he did not give in to her and refused to sin with her.

Mordecai was another who had to stand alone. When he refused to bow to Haman, the king’s servants and others “spake daily” to him about this action (Est. 3:2-4). Yet, Mordecai refused to give in as he was approached daily about bowing to Haman.

As we continue to read about Joseph, we see that things got worse for him after refusing Potiphar’s wife. He ended up in prison for the next two years (Gen. 39:20-41:9). Yet, after this, he was promoted to Pharaoh’s second-in-command (Gen. 41:39-40). After it was over, Joseph gave God credit for putting him in this position (Gen. 45:5, 7-8, 50:20). He recognized God’s providence. Think about what might have happened had Joseph yielded to temptation in Potiphar’s house! Perhaps he would not have ended up in the same place!

Similarly, Mordecai suffered for his decision early on. He suffered as he learned about a law going into effect that would see his death and the death of his nation (Est. 3:12-4:1). Yet, God meant to turn this into a blessing. By the end of the book, we see Haman dead and Mordecai serving as second-in-command in Persia (Est. 8:2, 10:3). Just as in Joseph’s day, God was able to reverse the fortune of Mordecai.

God still knows how to bless us. When we stand alone for God, we know that there will be people who will not be happy with that decision (Jn. 15:18-20). Yet, it is the best decision! Have you given in to the crowd? Repent of this and turn back to God! Are you worried that being a Christian means standing alone at times? Worry no more about it because it does! Even though one might stand alone among men, know God is faithful and will not leave you (Jas. 4:7-8). He will not let you down (Heb. 13:5-6). Learn a lesson from Joseph, Mordecai, and many others in Scripture who knew that following the Lord, even when others do not, is the best decision we can make.

- Jarrod M. Jacobs

In II Samuel 16, we read where David was cursed by Shimei, a family member of Saul. He threw stones at David, calling him a “bloody man” (v. 6-7). Though Abishai wanted Shimei to die, David spared his life. He reasoned that if God wanted Shimei to curse him, then he would not fight it (v. 9-11). David allowed Shimei to live, and he lived into the reign of Solomon (I Kings 2:36-46).

Why are these facts relevant to us? They are relevant because the descendants of Shimei lived to see the rise and fall of the kingdom of Judah. They saw the rise and fall of Babylon and the emergence of the Medo-Persian empire. In these generations, Shimei’s descendants gave birth to Jair, and finally, Mordecai and Esther were brought into the world (Est. 2:5, 7).

Think about this for a moment. Had David not spared Shimei’s life, would there have been a Mordecai to raise Esther? Would there have been Esther to save the Jews? I believe in God’s providence and know He would have made a way to spare the people if they had not been born. However, they were born, and because they were born, we see an exciting thing occurring. By the providence of God, a descendant of Judah (David) spared a descendant of Benjamin (Shimei), so that a descendant of Benjamin (Esther) could spare all of Judah! The actions described in Esther are what finally allow Christ to come into the world!

I doubt David ever thought about the descendants of Shimei when he spared him that day in II Samuel 16, but thanks be to God, it happened! I doubt Shimei thought that someday his descendants would save the lives of David’s descendants, but I am thankful to God that they did! Our Savior’s lineage was hanging in the balance in the days of the Persian Empire. Thanks be to God that Christ was spared, and He became the Savior for those under the Old Covenant and the people living today (Heb. 9:15; I Pet. 1:18-19)! All because David spared Shimei!

- Jarrod M. Jacobs

(A special thanks to #1 Son who said, “Hey Dad, did you notice …”)

Many times in the Scripture, we are warned about the dangers of falling into the pit you have dug. The point being that if one plans on harming another, he must beware because he will end up being hurt by his plans! Read passages like Proverbs 26:27, Ecclesiastes 10:8, and Psalm 7:15-16 and heed the warnings given by inspiration (II Tim. 3:16-17).

Haman was living proof of this truth. He had “dug a pit” by building gallows for Mordecai. This happened because of his anger and envy that so blinded him to reality that he listened to his wife’s suggestion and built gallows on which to hang Mordecai (Est. 5:14). However, those gallows would not be used to kill Mordecai. Instead, Haman ended up being hanged on the very gallows he had made for Mordecai (Est. 7:6-10)!

Emotions like anger and envy not only motivate a person to act in harmful ways, but it is often the case that the person harboring these emotions is harmed! I have not seen many exceptions to this. Look back to Genesis four, and see that when Cain acted in anger toward his brother, he ended up the worse for it. Even today, we remember the godly action of Abel (Heb. 11:4) and are repulsed at the actions of Cain (Jude 11)! Anger, envy, pride, and the like do not help us at all. Instead, one who is controlled by these things will end up harming himself physically as well as emotionally and spiritually!

Yes, the man who digs a pit for someone else will end up falling in it himself! Don’t be that person! Listen to the Lord and love your neighbor (Matt. 22:39). Allow yourself to think about the true, the just, the lovely, things of good report, virtuous, praise-worthy, etc. (Phil. 4:8-9). Live a life of joy, not anger, love, and not hate, and you will be blessed when you do (Jn. 13:34-35)!

- Jarrod M. Jacobs

How many times have we heard people justify their sins by saying that they didn’t know “x” was wrong? Perhaps someone breaks the speed limit, and when pulled over, tells the officer, “I didn’t know it was ‘x’ speed in this area.” Does this mean that he didn’t break the law? Actually, in the courts in our land, ignorance does not automatically excuse someone’s error. Similarly, ignorance is not an excuse with God! The sins one commits in ignorance have the same consequences as sins that are committed knowingly (Jas. 1:14-15; Rom. 6:23).

How does this relate to Haman? Please read Esther 7. When Esther reveals that Haman is the one responsible for establishing a law that would kill all the Jews, including her, Xerxes was enraged (v. 6-7). I am convinced that Haman had no idea Esther was a Jew until then. After all, she had concealed this fact (following Mordecai’s command, 2:10, 20), and it seems she had never said anything until this moment (v. 3-4). Thus, Haman is ignorant of the fact that his law also meant a death sentence to the queen.

Thus, here is a woman with her life on the line based on Haman’s ignorance! We cannot fall for the adage that “ignorance is bliss,” can we? Ignorance on the job usually results in injury. Ignorance on the ball field often results in a loss to the team. No, ignorance may be many things, but it is not bliss! In Esther, we see that ignorance will result in her death if things are not changed quickly.

Looking to modern-day, we understand that sins committed in ignorance hurt others, and they jeopardize one’s soul (Ezek. 18:20). Because this is true, is there any wonder then why we are taught to bridle our tongues (Jas. 3)? Let’s make sure we do not speak before we know all the facts! Maybe when we know all the facts, we will be quiet, anyway. Is it any wonder then why we are taught to control our thoughts as well as our actions (Phil. 4:8-9; Matt. 15:17-20; Jas. 1:26)? Let us control our thoughts and make sure we are not acting until we know the truth. As a good friend of mine likes to say, “Many people get more exercise jumping to conclusions than they do digging for facts.”

It is a dangerous world, and our words and deeds are powerful. Let us guard what we do and say and make sure they agree with what Jesus wants (Col. 3:17). Let us not act until we know the facts. Don’t be like Haman!

- Jarrod M. Jacobs

Solomon said, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Prov. 15:1). In a country whose conversations seem to be harsher than in the past, it is good to be reminded that a “soft answer” can get people just as far, if not farther, at times than screaming or demanding to be heard. In another proverb, we learn, “By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone” (Prov. 25:15). R.A. Torrey says this means, “soft and conciliating language will often accomplish the most difficult things” (Treasury of Scripture Knowledge). How true! Were we aware of these proverbs?

Two (of many) that embody these proverbs are Abigail (I Sam. 25) and Esther (Est. 7). Neither woman led armies into battle, nor did they stage protests, strikes, and the like. They were not warriors in the “conventional” sense of the word. Yet, by their wisdom, their soft answers, and wise reasoning, they persuaded kings to do their will!

Abigail’s wisdom calmed the anger of King David and saved her family from his wrath when her husband acted foolishly (I Sam. 25:21-33). Esther’s wisdom saved not only her life but the entire nation of the Jews (Est. 7:3-8:17)! How did she do it? Remember, Esther had approached the king uninvited (Est. 5:1-3), and when the king asked what she wanted, she invited her husband to two parties (Est. 5:4-8, 7:1-2). She understood the adage, “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” By inviting him to these parties and making him feel welcome, she then knew she was in a position to make her request, and he listened (Est. 7:3-4).

Please do not misunderstand. A “soft answer” can still be firm and have conviction. Read Esther 7:4-6 and discover a soft, yet firm answer to Xerxes that is filled with conviction. We do not compromise with sin and error when answering in this manner. If we do, it is no longer a “soft answer,” but a “wrong answer!”

Does this mean that there is no time when fighting for what one believes in is necessary? Of course, not (I Tim. 6:12)! There is a very great need for fighting against Satan and the false doctrines of men (Eph. 6:13-18; I Tim. 4:6-9). At the same time, it is the wise person who understands when to fight hard and when to use the “soft answer.” Let us pray for that wisdom and use it!

- Jarrod M. Jacobs