But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.
- from Esther 9:10, 15, 16

Yesterday we examined what a mature response to evil and opposition would look like. Today, we’re going to pay closer attention to the Jewish measured response.

When the original edict in the story was issued, the Persians were told they could kill, destroy and annihilate the Jews. And as an incentive to make this genocide happen, the Persians were told they could keep the plunder they took off of the Jews they killed.

When the second edict was issued, allowing the Jews to defend themselves, they were also allowed to take the plunder from the people they fought. But they didn’t. They didn’t take the plunder from Haman’s sons. They didn’t take the plunder in Susa, the capital city. They didn’t take the plunder in the 127 provinces where the second edict was read. Across the empire, the uniform posture of the Jews was to protect themselves, not to take advantage.

Are you in a conflict right now where God is calling you to take a measured response – the moral high ground – and to resist engaging in morally ambiguous behavior (even if you think you can justify it in the moment)? What will your mature, measure response look like?