IMJA
Shalom Chaverim (Friends) and Co-Laborers,
Very soon we will be observing the Biblical festival of Purim, a two-day celebration on the 14th and 15th day of the twelfth Hebrew month, according to the Biblical calendar, which begins this year on Sunday, February 28th. This feast commemorates the victory of the Jewish people in Persia in the face of certain annihilation, and it continues to speak prophetically to us.
The Jewish people are to remember and celebrate this holiday throughout every generation (Esther 9:20, 21,27,28). Notice that verse 27 states that anyone who joined the Jewish people was to observe this prescribed time, as well. Considering the book of Esther ends with the Gentiles in Persia, celebrating the victory as they joined themselves to the Jewish people, I feel it’s appropriate that both Jew and Gentile should join in the celebration. Purim is, after all, a Biblical feast, not simply a Jewish national celebration, as in the case of Hanukkah.
“Pur” is an Assyrian word meaning a pebble or small stone that was used for casting “lots.” Haman tried to choose the day our Jewish people would be put to death by this method. Yet, one can cast lots into one’s lap, but the decision comes from the Lord (Proverbs 16:33).
Historically, the Persians came on the Biblical scene around 539 BCE, in fulfillment of the prophetic Aramaic handwriting on the Babylonian palace wall (Daniel 5:26-28). Believe it or not, the Persian Empire was very favorable to Jewish people at that time. King Cyrus told the Persian Jews they could go back home to Israel and rebuild the Temple and their faith, and 42,360 did return the following year, under Z’rubavel (Ezra chapters 1 and 2).
Unfortunately, the ancient Persian Empire under Cyrus, who once helped rebuild the Temple of God, has now risen anew to become the “not to be appeased” enemy of the Jews. Persia, re-named Iran since 1935, is actually named first among three Moslem nations to join a northern (Russian) coalition which mounts a mighty attack against Israel in the Last Days (Ezekiel 38:1-17). Certainly, Israel sees Iran as one of the greatest of all potential dangers in the area.
The events of Purim take place around the year 482 BCE and are described for us in Megilat (the scroll of) Esther.
Esther chapter 1 describes King Ahasuerus (known as the Persian King Xerxes I, or Artaxerxes II according to the Septuagint) deposing Vashti as queen, and holding a beauty contest which lasted over three years to find her replacement. Esther was chosen, thus becoming the first Jewish-Persian queen. She kept her identity a secret, even taking on a pagan name. The name “Esther” at that time (meaning Star) actually was a Persian variant of Ishtar, a Babylonian fertility goddess that supposedly came to earth in a giant egg. Not exactly a bold statement affirming her Jewish identity! Yet, her Hebrew name, Hadassah, means “to hide.” Even though she was highly assimilated, ADONAI opened up a door for Esther to be used.
Chapter 2 introduces Mordechai, Esther’s cousin and foster father, who told her not to disclose her Jewishness because there was latent Anti-Semitism in the air. And so we see here the ploys of the Adversary. He tries to deceive through fear, to have Jewish people remain quiet about their ethnicity, while at the same time bringing destruction upon them.
Chapter 3 introduces Haman, a descendent of Agag, King of Amelek. When Israel was wandering in the wilderness prior to settling in the Promised Land, the Amalekites (the first of the Caananite nations to attack them after the Exodus) would not let the Israelites pass without fighting them. For this act of arrogance, the Amalekites were punished by ADONAI , having their name blotted out and having Him declare that He would be at war against Amalek “from generation to generation” (Exodus 17:14-16). Because of the disobedience of Israel’s first King, Saul, in carrying out God’s directive (1 Samuel 15), it allowed Haman to arise to a position of influence in the Persian Empire, which was spread out from India to Ethiopia—a huge empire of 127 provinces that contained over 90% of the world’s Jewish population at that time.
Haman turned against all of the Jewish people because of one he disliked (Mordechai). Haman represents anti-Semitism, hatred and rebellion against the God of Israel, and is an anti-Messiah figure. He is called “the enemy of the Jews” in Megilat Esther. There were individuals against us, as mentioned in the Scriptures, just like those who oppose the Jewish people today! In every generation, there has been a Pharaoh, Inquisition, Czar, Hitler, Stalin, Ayatollah, Hussein, and Ahmadinejad who has sought to destroy the Jewish people physically, culturally, and spiritually.
Haman offered today’s equivalent of nearly 20 million dollars to the King, to set a date for the destruction of the Jews. That took place nearly 2,500 years ago in Iran and the situation is Iran today is no different. Iran has been supplying missiles to Gaza, which have been falling in Southern Israel for the past nine years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to take action against Iran before it can deliver a nuclear weapon to Israel.
In Esther chapter 4, Mordechai realized the severity of the situation. It was his job to prepare Esther for her hour of influence before the King as he challenged her: Who knows whether you didn’t come into your royal position precisely for such a time as this. Mordechai saw that this “coincidence” of being the Jewish queen could help. Despite her fear, Esther became a woman of open faith, with a plan. She would invite Haman to a special banquet attended by herself and the King, and would then accuse Haman of his treachery (Esther 5:8).
The night before Mordechai’s execution, the King had insomnia (Esther 6). As the King opened the record books, it told of Mordechai, who had a great position in the King’s court, having saved his life from an assassination attempt of which the King was unaware. (Esther 2:21).
As a result, Esther chapter 7 reveals that King Ahasuerus had a change of heart toward the Jewish people and in fact allowed Esther to show him who it was that was planning to kill the Jews. He had Haman hanged on the gallows that had initially been prepared for Mordechai! Yet, the decree Haman set into motion (signed with the King’s signet ring), concerning the destruction of the Jewish people, could not be overturned, according to the Law of the Medes and the Persians (Esther 8:8). Esther and Mordechai could have been discouraged that deliverance had not come after Haman’s death, and yet the answer was there, for the King gave the Jewish people permission to unite to defend their lives by way of an additional law that was passed to circumvent the existing law (Esther 8:5-8,11; 9:16).
ADONAI had allowed the Jewish people to be threatened with total annihilation so that the assimilated Jewish community of Babylon would stand up. And it started with Esther. We as a Jewish people survived because we were willing to stand up for being Jewish!
Megilat Esther shows us that Mordechai wept for his brethren, humbled himself, risked his life, and triumphed over his enemies. The final chapter reveals that he was next to the King in power and authority, and was accepted by his fellow Jews. Mordechai spent his days overseeing the welfare of his people and speaking peace to their seed. Likewise, the Messiah Yeshua wept over Jerusalem, humbled Himself in a shameful death, and is now seated at the right hand of God, triumphant over His enemies! Yeshua is being more and more accepted by His Jewish brethren, and as His ambassadors, He wants us to concern ourselves with the future of Israel.
The salvation wrought during the time of Esther and during the time of the Messiah, Yeshua, was orchestrated by the same God who always turns the tables on His enemies. Haman was hung on the same gallows he prepared for Mordechai, and the death of Yeshua was the beginning of the end for the Adversary, Satan, which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known [it], they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1Corinthians 2:8).
Haman represents Satan, and Mordechai symbolizes the Messiah, who has the final victory over Satan. May God bless you this Purim, as you meditate upon the One who delivers us from our enemies!
For Messiah Yeshua’s Glory,
Joel Liberman
Executive Director
