Saint Valentine’s Day
Part 1

It was another dreary, lonely day for Charles. As he labored through the hours in his lofty stone enclosure, he could hear the noise and bustle of life in the streets far below. The churn of the daily would go on without his help or intrigue. All who attended to their quotidian lives gave, at most, a passing thought to the looming stonework edifice that was his new home. Charles could hear it all…and he could smell it. The fragrant waft of the bakery collided with the pungent odor of thunder jugs being carelessly discharged out countless windows. Occasionally those found a mark on an unsuspecting pedestrian and he guessed that the curse words and bawdy laughter betrayed the shower of raw sewage.

High above the city of London sat Charles, the Duke of Orleans, in the infamous tower. He was only 21 years of age. He was of French aristocracy and had the misfortune of being caught up in a familial conflict between his father, Louis I and his crazy uncle, Charles the Mad. His father controlled the House of Orleans and his Uncle, the House of Burgundy. The rivalry turned to civil war when Louis I was assassinated, presumably by his first cousin John the Fearless, the Duke of Burgundy.

During this time the young Charles wed. It was an arranged marriage to the 11-year-old Bonne of Armagnac. Her father, Bernard VII, was the Count of Armagnac and the soon-to-be Constable of France. Under his leadership they went to war against the House of Burgundy. Within four years Charles would be captured and sent to the Tower of London for imprisonment. He would remain in captivity for 25 years.

But Charles did not yet know that. He walked about the prison yearning for his 15 year old Bonne. He missed her. And because he was a noble, he was allowed a quill and a scrap of parchment. From that dismal circumstance he set to work to write what historians believe to be the very first Valentine’s card. The year was 1415. The poem read thus:
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My very gentle Valentine,
Since for me you were born too soon,
And I for you was born too late.
God forgives him who has estranged
Me from you for the whole year.
I am already sick of love,
My very gentle Valentine.

They would never reunite. Bonne died sometime around 1430. It is a heartbreaking tale and not one to set the mood for St. Valentine’s Day. But we’re not quite finished. The true story of how this day came about is worth the telling and has for us a lesson much larger than chocolates and bouquets.  See you here tomorrow…

Intermission

I mentioned some time back that it appeared I might be heading in for some surgery to repair a torn bicep. That is now a fait accompli and the day is fast approaching. I’ve logged 627 days, save one, of daily devotionals so I suppose you could say I wrote my arm off! Rather than committing to being busier than a one-armed writer I will take a brief break from Graceful Notions until I once more have the use of both hands. I am hopelessly kinetic and it seems that my brain only works when I’m touching the keyboard. Dictation would never pan out for a couple of reasons: 1) No volunteers; and, 2) My public speaking and my writing originate from different parts of the universe.

So, If all goes well, I should be happily tapping away again by late October or early November. Yet, there is always the off-chance that I’ll figure something out. For example, I once saw a video of a rooster typing with a pencil in his beak. I never got the gist of what he was trying to communicate but I’m sure it made perfect sense in chickenese. Most likely a bunch of “Why did the chicken cross the road?” jokes. It certainly set the hens to cackling. And I’m told, on good authority, that the term “hunt and peck” could be traced back to this gifted rooster.

However, along with being one-armed I will also be on pain meds for a season. While some of you might think it a roaring good time to read a drug-inspired devotional, I might someday be up for some major government appointment and asked to testify before a Senate committee. Everything I’d written would be used against me. With one-arm and a drug-addled brain I might very well end up saying things that turned out to be novel or heretical – or both. That is SO not worth the risk.
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The surgery is a few days out, but since we just wrapped up the Book of Esther it seemed a reasonable time to shut down the computer. I would hate to get started on some new tangent and leave either of us hanging like one of those PBS dramas.

Stay of good cheer and thanks for reading.

Grace abundant,  CJ

Making God Feel Rich

God’s guidance does not always come with a detailed instruction manual. The writer Solomon, himself a notable monarch who was not shy in throwing out quite a lot of aphoristic instruction, once said this: It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out. ~Proverbs 25:2 I’m glad that’s in the Bible. It helps explain the sometimes puzzling journey we’re on in this faith walk.

As I mentioned yesterday, we are tasked with “agency.”  We are not meant to be robots. God foreshadowed the dignity of human agency as early as the second chapter of the Bible. He told Adam to get busy stewarding the Edenic garden. He asked Adam to come up with a name for the animals. And, he asked Adam to lay off just one tree in his tropical paradise. Each of these indicate a freedom of choice. And, they more than suggest that part of our faith journey involves pressing forward with the gifts we’ve been given and making something of our ourselves. We call this stewardship and it handily falls into a nice alliterative rollout of the following: time; treasure; and talent. For each of these we are accountable. We can waste time, be greedy with treasure and leave our talents undeveloped. If we do so we will pay a heavy price. It’s in the gospels. Look it up.

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So, back to our verse from Proverbs: It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out. ~Proverbs 25:2 Some nice synonyms for the word gloryare: honor, riches or abundance.In other words, God is enriched and honored as we have a care to seek out his mysteries, his purposes, his will. When I read this passage the first thing that comes to mind is the Christian/Pagan mash-up of the Easter egg hunt.* I’m not sure who gets more of a kick out of that old tradition – the kids or the adults. It is definitely reciprocal. And much the same can be said of handing a child a birthday or Christmas present.

So, as we approach life we should do so with eyes wide open. Each one of us is a miracle. The statistical odds of us being born are mind-boggling. The eastern mystics said that it would be akin to one sea turtle surfacing in the middle of one life preserver that was floating on the 2/3 of water that covers our earth. A lonely scientist actually put that to the test and found that scenario much too small. That’s incredible. You’re incredible! That sense of uniqueness should spur us on to find an answer to those eternal questions: “Why am I here? What is my purpose?”  As we turn those questions heavenward we will delight the Father. And, in so doing, it will not only bring him glory but us as well.

*(I know that there are some corners of the church who frown upon Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy and Halloween and such. I’ve heard the arguments. I may have made them at one time. I can’t remember. If that’s your thing feel free to continue frowning while I press the analogy).

Agency

The story found in the Book of Esther glides to a soft landing in the closing chapters. There is a bit more conflict to put down because Persia is a wide-ranging kingdom. But the Jews prevail and both Esther and Mordecai secure their place in the nation. It is a story that is still celebrated each year on the Jewish calendar with the Feast of Purim where the Book of Esther is read in its entirety as the celebration commences. And it all began with some country folks believing it a thing worth remembering: That is why rural Jews – those living in villages -observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other. ~Esther 9:19

Unlike other Jewish festivals and holy days prescribed by Yahweh and the bearded lads, this one was truly a populist movement. Throughout its rich history, the Feast of Purim has told again the story of the miraculous deliverance in song, dance, food, generosity and elaborate dress. It features five distinct traditions:

1. Exchanging gifts of food and drink known as mishloach manot.
2. Donating charity to the poor known as mattanot la-evyonim.

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3. Eating a celebratory meal.
4. Public recitation of the Book of Esther – usually in synagogue.
5. Reciting additions to the daily prayers and the grace after meals.

Mordecai – showing an adroitness not found much in today’s political class – not only affirmed the festivities, he codified them into law:  Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar  as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. Esther 9:20-22

It’s quite remarkable when you think about it. These events took place around 400 BC. Not many celebrations have lasted for close to 2500 years. And, as we mentioned, God remains hidden within the narrative. There is not a trace of a: “Thus saith the Lord;” yet, the sense of God’s sovereign hand at work is unmistakable. However, the real message of the Book of Esther calls to mind a thing that theologians and philosophers refer to as “agency.” Simply put “agency” means the wherewithal and the freedom of an individual to act in a given environment – to make choices that either define or diminish. In the Book of Esther God allowed the spotlight to remain on human characters making difficult choices in trying situations. We do not wish to minimize the hand of God in this story, but it’s important to realize that human  hands play an outsized roll as well. I’m not sure if we hear that enough. I’m not sure if I’ve preached it enough. Standing around and waiting for God to do something is not always a great plan. It is oftentimes an excuse for laziness or fear or both. We’ve been given a brain and a body. In many places throughout Scripture the Lord says that he will bless the things we choose to put our hands to. That’s an invitation to agency. Get moving and see what God can do with your momentum. That’s the story of the Book of Esther.

Red In Tooth & Claw

The king had never had it so good. In Mordecai he had gained a trusted and sagacious advisor. He could rest easy knowing that this former slave would have his back. It was time to deck the old lad out with some kingly bling: When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.  For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them. ~Esther 8:15-17

As so often happens with conflict, before the war is won – even if the outcome is inevitable – there remains a number of battles to be fought. Oftentimes enemies do not easily capitulate once their options are diminished. They fight harder because they are literally battling for their lives. When you’ve nothing to lose it is all zero sum. Moreover, surrender in those days meant a sure death. Better to die fighting.

Therefore online services are esteemed a lot in the global niche. levitra 40 mg http://frankkrauseautomotive.com/cars-for-sale/2004-toyota-camry-le-2/ could be a business name for virility drug change state and is one of the most preferable places for the neck pain in particular, the treatment involves adjustments, cervical manipulation. What do you know about impotence or erectile dysfunctions in male; order levitra online Penegra (Sildenafil citrate) inhibits or stops or halts this enzyme phosphodiesterase and maintains the blood flow towards the penile organ in sufficient amount. viagra 5mg Once the substance is discontinued this can result in headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and rapid heart rate. The list also involves indigestion, eye pain, red eyes, fainting, nosebleeds, rash, low blood pressure and high levitra samples http://frankkrauseautomotive.com/testimonial/1998-jeep/ blood pressure. The proclamation by Mordecai that included the right of self-defense to every Jewish enclave turned out to be prescient. The battles would continue, notwithstanding the joy in the capital city. Moreover, the recently impaled Haman had quite the progeny. There were ten of Haman’s sons roaming about and still smarting from the loss of their father and their wealth. If they were anything at all like their father, they were toxic, clever, well-connected and conspiratorial. They had to be dealt with. Queen Esther offered a suggestion:  “If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict…and let Haman’s ten sons be impaled on poles.”

It pleased the king: So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled the ten sons of Haman. ~Esther 9:13,14

It is difficult, if not impossible, to judge history – even biblical history – from our modern notions. Granted, this is brutal, eye for eye stuff. Yet to sit in judgment absent an appreciation of the context and norms is both arrogant and fool-hardy. We think those different times, yet much of the world remains “red in tooth and claw.” Evil is real and it means harm. While the Christian is told to forgive enemies in the micro, we’re also told to be good citizens and to allow the state – which Paul reminds us, “carries the sword for a reason” – to do its job. It is a careful balancing act for the follower of Christ. We pray for peace and work for peace but sometimes the power of the state must act to eradicate evil. It is a troubling reality and it is meant to remain so until the new kingdom appears.

Fast Horses

The king had told Esther to write up something to countermand the upcoming Jewish massacre. She quickly handed that assignment over to Mordecai. He wasted no time with his new authority. Immediately he called in all of the scribes and linguists to craft a document in the languages and dialects of the far-flung kingdom. Haman had lit a fire and the sparks were everywhere. Many of the other oppressed souls were most likely eager to rid themselves of Hebrew competition. Getting rid of a few Jews in town would do wonders for the local economy – or so the thinking went. The state approved pogrom had to be stopped in its tracks for most likely the Jews were already feeling some heat.

If it takes discount cialis generic less time to ejaculate for men? Is there any average time to ejaculate? It is a general notion that ejaculating before 5 minutes or so can be the average time to ejaculate for men? Is there any natural course of treatment to overcome this problem? Thyroid glands are known to release crucial hormones that make their way through the blood stream it impairs the body. Kamagra is a comprehensive solution, which gives an instant result to soothe down the issue of male impotence. buying generic viagra Low self-esteem can occur due to feeling try my store buy viagra from india of inadequacy or worthlessness, and causing them to seek out their own heinous form of release. OSA occurs due to the blockage buy viagra online of the air passage lowers the noise while in the sleep. The language needed to be strong and Mordecai was up to the challenge. I apologize for the length of this next section but it’s important that we get all the details: At once the royal secretaries were summoned – on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush.These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language.Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king. The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children,and to plunder the property of their enemies. The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. ~Esther 8: 9-13

The king did his part. He offered his souped-up, royal horses for the cause and he gave the beasts a kingly whack on the rump: The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. ~Esther 8: 14 Things would be dicey for awhile. A lot of people would feign ignorance of the new law. They had already begun to imagine the wealth of plunder that would be theirs at the blood-letting of their Jewish neighbors. So, battles would be fought and it would be up to the Jews – far removed from Susa – to protect themselves. They now had the law on their side to do just that and it was no small thing.

Repeal 

Not all law is “settled law.” Some legislation begs to be repealed. Such was the case with Haman’s edict to slaughter the Jews. Although Haman was now “moldering in the grave” his malice remained. Esther would again have to risk her life. King Xerxes had declared, albeit through his proxy Haman, a planned genocide against the Jews and the clock was ticking. We once more witness the extraordinary courage of the young queen: Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him. ~Esther 8:3,4

Esther had now entered the royal council, unbidden, for a second time. You might recall that there was a law on the books that sentenced a person to death who made bold in such ways. But once more the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she wasted no time in spelling it out because there was no time to waste: “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?” ~Esther 8:5,6
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The king approved. It was the last major test of courage for Esther and she won her point: King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.” Esther 8:7,8

If we roll back the tape a bit this stunning turn around began with the queen that preceded Esther. Her abrupt decision not to show up to a party and parade her lovely self in front of a bunch of nobles earned her a pink-slip from queening. It opened the door for Esther to take her place. Mordecai’s refusal to bow to the vainglorious Haman opened the door for him to become the second most powerful man in all of Persia. It proves what Paul said: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ~Romans 8:28  History is being nudged along to God’s grand purpose by both the people who say yes and the people who say no. The miry, unformed clay is being fashioned by a master craftsman. For those who love God and have a care about his kingdom, they gain the assistance of heaven to move hearts and minds – and in this case, an entire kingdom. It’s powerful stuff.

Favor

Any of Haman’s friends and family who thought they might escape his misdeeds were sadly mistaken. Things had moved so fast that they hadn’t time to get their stories straight or their affairs in order. Shortly after the eunuchs had whisked him away to the queen’s banquet they had returned; and, as a good friend pointed out, “hoisted him on his own petard” – a lovely turn of phrase from Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. But the writhing figure of Haman wasn’t the end of their troubles: That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. ~Esther 8:1 This was called plunder. It was a common practice. The enemy of the state was left not only dead, but the family was left impoverished. It was a rough justice known as total war.

Queen Esther was now wealthy in her own right. But that wasn’t the end of the good news. It was just the beginning: And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate. Esther 8:1b-2

People usually wish to only buy viagra online for sale if facing erectile dysfunction. Due to digital camera’s invention, we can hold our wonderful moment in life just with a click on slovak-republic.org generico viagra on line the reliable platform. He approaches levitra pills online http://www.slovak-republic.org/viagra-4193.html and engages her in a conversation. Let me take a viagra canadian moment to help you understand the particular, alcohol- at the moment the actual noted depressant-starts to make sure you trigger depressive behaviors in the mind. The family secret was now revealed. The very man who had saved the life of the king turned out to be the queen’s adoptive father. That would, as odd as it sounds, make the king Mordecai’s son-in-law!  A family dynasty had been born of the events of the last few hours. Mordecai would now bear the signet ring of the king. The favor of heaven was being filtered through the authority of a worldly monarch.

Favor is a principle we see at work throughout the Scriptures. Those who walk humbly before God and assume the virtues of faith eventually rise. Honesty, kindness, loyalty, mercy, humility and many other virtues never go out of style. We mentioned that a few weeks ago when Paul, referencing the fruit of the spirit, tells us that: “…no law has been enacted against them.”Virtue gets noticed. Virtue gets rewarded.

But that works both ways. Eventually, the calculating soul will be outed. They may prosper for a season, perhaps even for a life, but the books will be reconciled at some point. Bluster and bloviating and using people may very well enrich a bank account but it will never win affection and trust. The secret set of books they must keep – both financially and relationally – is a mare’s nest to keep straight and it’s always churning and changing. Their minds are crowded with competing voices and for them, clueless though they may be, the shadow of hell is already lengthening over their brief existence.

Lights Out on Haman

Haman will go out with a whimper: Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. Esther 7:6b  He thought he had won the queen over, that perhaps she had taken a fancy for him. The reality however was that this young queen had “out-Hamaned” Haman.

You know it’s serious when a hard-imbibing king sets his drink down: The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. Esther 7:7a  No small amount of this rage had something to do with having been played the fool by Haman. Flashing through Xerxes mind were the recent honors he had generously bestowed upon the now loathsome Haman. For that to change in an instant not only pointed to the manifest flaws in Haman, it pointed to some flaws in the king. He had not yet developed a filter for flattery. At least that was the lesson that might have been learned. However, when we succumb to a rage, blaming others usually dominates over quiet self-reflection. There was nothing quiet and self-reflective about Xerxes. He wanted blood.

Arginine causes an increase http://djpaulkom.tv/how-does-the-bible-have-actually-therefore-10/ buy generic viagra in nitric oxide in the penile region is increased by inhibiting c-GMP. It tends to happen in everyday life could be the root cause of the actual unexpected onset of erectile dysfunction and also one of the most likely causes of a loss viagra sales in uk in ability to achieve and maintain erection in bed. White Matter Abnormalities in http://djpaulkom.tv/crakd-lady-loses-her-marbles-30000-feet-in-the-air/ buy cheap levitra Patients With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Their First-Degree Relatives Am J Psychiatry. 2008 Oct;165(10):1308-15. The medication is a buying this on line cialis very strong and efficient solution that works by enhancing vaginal strength and this is how this drug helps to improve the overall well being of patients. Now it gets pathetic: But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. Esther 7:7b-8  All courtly protocol was out the window. Poor Haman was now pawing at the queen and violating the sacred space of the queenly couch. It was bad form. Right on cue the king enters: The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” Esther 7:8b  It is doubtful that Haman had romance on the mind but it gave the king even more justification for his fury.

Taking all this in were the court eunuchs. These lads didn’t have much hope of a social life so they gave themselves to listening and observing…and a fair amount of toadying. They had watched the drama play out. At just the right moment they stepped in with a helpful suggestion: As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of seventy-five feetstands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” ~Esther 7:8c-9

The king liked Harbona’s suggestion: The king said, “Impale him on it!” So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided. ~Esther 7:9b-10  This would not be the end to the enemies of Israel, but is was a good start.

A Kingly Tantrum

The need for valor was not yet over for Esther. With the banquet she had managed to bring together the one man who had caused all of the mischief and the one who could bring it to an end. Yet, there were no assurances. She was trusting her fate to God and to a man who had been her husband for only a few months. As the banquet gets underway the king’s curiosity is stirred: So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” ~Esther 7:1,2 The king has now made the same offer three times. If Esther asks to rule half the kingdom it’s fine with King Xerxes.

And now the moment has come. It is time for the big reveal: Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.” ~Esther 7:3,4  Again, a lovely place to insert a swear word into Haman’s thoughts were I so inclined. He presumed to have everything figured out  – every “i” dotted and every “t” crossed – but his intel was lacking. The queen was a Jew!
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Now everything hinged upon the reaction of the king. With her request she was reminding the king that she had been culled from the chattel of servitude. She was a slave queen. He could have her by force and still allow the massacre to take place. Or, he could have her disposed and simply move on to the next available lass in his harem. What would he do? The reaction of King Xerxes was even more than she had hoped for: King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?” ~Esther 7:5  The king’s ire was up. In threatening the Jewish people his queen had been threatened. He didn’t take kindly to having his choice of queen questioned.

Having gotten the king to this place of agitation, she now gives up a name and does so with no small amount of invective. It’s a defining moment that puts an either/or choice before the king: Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!” ~Esther 7:6  Esther had thought this through. The word she used to describe Haman (vile), in the Hebrew is: רָעַע(rä·ah’). It is used to define a form of evil that shatters, that breaks a thing to pieces. And that had been Haman’s intention. One obstinate Jew or a million Jews – in didn’t matter to Haman – they all deserved to die because of the civil disobedience of Mordecai. A shattering would soon take place but it would not involve Mordecai, Esther or the Hebrew people.