The story in the Book of Esther is one of many examples in Scripture of the attempted destruction of the Jewish people. Hamen, the viceroy to King Xerxes, concocted a manipulative plan to destroy all the Jews in Sushan and its provinces. The plan was born as a result of envy and jealousy of Esther’s cousin and the king’s advisor, Mordechai, a Jew.
According to Esther 3, the king’s secretaries wrote down all of Haman’s orders to the king’s army commanders and governors in all the provinces and to the officials of every people. These letters were sent by courier to every province instructing them “to destroy, kill and exterminate all Jews, from young to old, including women and children, and to seize their goods as plunder.” This massacre was to take place on a specific day—the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar.
It was a secret that Queen Esther was a Jew and when she was informed of Hamen’s insidious plot, she realized the fate of the Jewish people rested on her. But she knew it was more than just being an influence on her husband, the king. It was of upmost necessity to implore the One who held the hearts of kings in His hands. Before she risked an uninvited audience with the king of the Empire, she had to first call on the King of the universe. Esther knew where her help would come from. The situation was overwhelming and far beyond just retracting the official edict.
Esther needed divine guidance and wisdom—as do we all in these troubled times.
Scripture says, The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance (Psalm 33:10-12 KJV).
Like Esther, may we all seek His face for wisdom and trust Him for favor. And may we join in celebration with our Jewish friends for the celebration of Purim as we give thanks for all the good things He has done.
Happy Purim friends!
