Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Counterfeit Joy

ESTHER 5:9-14 – And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.”

The Apostle Paul would make a statement about Satan we need to keep ever before our thinking as we live the Christian life.  He called our chief adversary an “angel of light” – And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).   The old deceiver is also the great counterfeiter.  Satan will attempt to deceive God’s people by offering a “cheap knock off” of God’s blessings.  Just think about the title “angel of light.”  He will come to us distorting the truth of God’s Word.  He will attempt to create a false picture of the Light of the World, the Lord Jesus.  Remember, in the wilderness temptation of Jesus, the devil misquoted and misapplied scripture to Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). And he will get us to believe his lies that seem like truth.  Today’s account of Haman is another example.

As one reads those opening statements about Haman’s heart condition, it would be easy to assume he was experiencing the favor of the Lord.  He was joyful and glad of heart.  Isn’t every believer promised the joy of the Lord and gladness of heart? Read John 13 through 16 and the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians.  Joy is a rich blessing from the Lord to His people.  However, the joy of the Lord is not what Haman experienced.  He had “joy” of good circumstances, not the Lord’s favor.  And here is where we must be careful and discerning.  Joy from the Lord is not based on good circumstances, and a relatively problem-free life.  No, our joy is based on who Jesus is to us, and His absolute sovereign control over our lives.   Haman was of the devil and he was duped, even deceived by an emotional “good feeling” based on what he thought was good circumstances.

In our walks with the Lord, never look at circumstances as either being God’s favor if good, or God’s displeasure if bad.  They are not the measurement of His joy.  It is our relationship with Him and all He is to us.  Lean on who Jesus is to us – King, Priest, Prophet, and Shepherd.  This is where our joy is found and maintained, not in the fleeting circumstances of life.

PRAYER: “Father, help me not to mistake ‘happy’ circumstances for Your joy and be deceived.”

QUOTE: “The Joy of the Lord is not based on circumstances, but on the Lord and our reliance upon Him.”