Year of Realization - Day 24: Evil uses covetousness to do people in.

“So on April 17 the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Haman dictated. It was sent to the king’s highest officers, the governors of the respective provinces, and the nobles of each province in their own scripts and languages. The decree was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s signet ring. Dispatches were sent by swift messengers into all the provinces of the empire, giving the order that all Jews—young and old, including women and children—must be killed, slaughtered, and annihilated on a single day. This was scheduled to happen on March 7 of the next year. The property of the Jews would be given to those who killed them.”

‭‭Esther‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When looking at the Holocaust, we can’t help but wonder how this was allowed to happen. Now, an examination of the dynamics taking place all over the world that promoted turning a blind eye to what was going on, may well serve for some understanding. But for our purposes, let us examine why many of the German people themselves were complicit—and in many cases assisted—with the extermination of the Jews.

On Day 20 we discussed the fact that marginalization and villainization are part of the enemy’s plan. And we know that this was definitely at work during the time of the Holocaust. In fact, one major ploy in the villainization of the Jews was making them be seen as being the reason other people were not doing as well. They were making all the money; they owned all the businesses; and so on. Yes, let’s call this what it is: covetousness.

Indeed, we can see that coveting was part of what led to the first murder (Genesis 4). Coveting was part of what caused Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery (Genesis 37). Covetousness caused King David to take someone else’s wife and then be willing to kill in a cover-up. And, covetousness led to Ahab allowing Jezebel to frame an innocent man so that he could be killed and his property seized. There’s good reason why prohibition of covetousness is the 10th Commandment.

In our opening scripture we see that Haman’s plot to exterminate the Jews is taking form. Now, a letter is written—not only allowing the killing of the Jews—but basically incentivizing the killing of the Jews. Yes! The ones who kill the Jews get to take their property.

Be careful not to allow the temptation to covet make you a pawn in the plans of those wanting to assume total control. Indeed, would be tyrants of all stripes use the tool of covetousness to label a whole group or race of people as being the enemy so as to divide and conquer.

We must be on guard to not let covetousness be a part of our thinking in terms of other people. After all, it can end up making you complicit—or central—to the doing and/or allowing of much evil.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#yearofrealization