Jewish people celebrate the Biblical Feast of Purim and with good reason as it commemorates an important aspect of their history —- deliverance from the wicked Haman and his wicked plot to annihilate the Jews who lived in Persia, which is now modern-day Iran. The king of Persia at that time reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1). Haman had convinced the king that the Jewish people should be destroyed because they were “different”.
In 2006 my husband and I made our second trip to Israel. We were in Jerusalem during the Feast of Purim. We both remember seeing the children dressed up in Purim costumes. We also remember that there were many Jewish families in the hotels. Why was this? Because these families had been forcibly removed and displaced from their homes in the Gaza Strip during Israel’s disengagement from Gaza the previous August. Many Jewish families had to live in hotels! Time has proven that this policy was a catastrophe and the consequences of that decision are still being dealt with today by Israelis and the Palestinians that live in Gaza. The terrorist groups that rule over Gaza continue to wreck much harm on their own people as well as the people of Israel. It’s a very troubling situation.
Esther was in a troubling situation in her day.
The situation of Esther’s day beckoned her to make a decision also. Would she remain silent or would she stand in the gap for her people? If you know the book of Esther you know that she did stand in the gap at the risk of her own life. She won the king’s favor! The king also honored her uncle Mordecai whom Haman wanted hung on gallows and dealt with wicked Haman. Haman’s schemes turned and caused his demise.
Esther continued to intercede for her people.
Esther 8:3 tells us that “Esther spoke again to the king, feel down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews.” King Ahasuerus did just that and the Jewish people were saved and defeated their enemies. No one could withstand them. They had rest from their enemies. Mordecai established the Feast of Purim to celebrate their sorrow turning to joy. They sent presents to one another and to the poor and this tradition continues today.
The story of Esther is relevant in our day!
We are in very troubling times now; perilous times! While anti-semitism is rising across many nations including our own we also see an increasing threat against believers in Jesus. We are viewed as “different” (which we should be), and supposedly also filled with “hate speech”. Many in government and other arenas are trying to have the Bible labeled as “hate speech”. Should we remain silent? I think not. We certainly are not to remain silent in prayer. We are to go before our King and petition Him as Esther did. As believers in Jesus, we have favor with God the Father and can enter His throne room of grace asking for help in time of need! In the USA we can still raise our voice in the public arena and we must or face ever increasing loss of our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. We must do as the Lord instructed. ““Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16)
The Church at large has been too quiet in the United States. We have been too quiet in prayer and too quiet in the public arena. We have had little effect on the culture and that is to our shame. We have also not dealt with our own ungodliness and sin. May we truly repent and turn from our own wicked ways. Then the culture will see that we are truly different in a good way because we genuinely represent the one who gave His life for us. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus Come for your Bride!
Join Women of the Word at Sight and Sound in Lancaster, PA June 8 -10, 2021 for the Biblical Theater production of Queen Esther. Hotel, meals and time for shopping and sight-seeing included. An evening meeting with speaker Dr. Lynn Lucas included. REGISTRATION DEADLINE is APRIL 1, 2021. Information at GodConferences.com
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Betsy Roy is the Director of Women of the Word, an inter-generational ministry dedicated to helping women grow as disciples of Jesus by applying God’s Word through the power of the Holy Spirit. WOW holds conferences, retreats, Bible seminars and trips to Israel.
Betsy and her husband Jim lead the trips to Israel, which include visiting with local believers, both Messianic and Arab. Together they have 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren which are the delight of their hearts. God’s mercy endures from generation to generation.
