Victory in Israel’s God – A Point for Purim

By Sam Nadler

In the story of Esther, the evil ruler Haman, attempts to wipe out the Jewish people, due to his hatred toward Mordecai, a Jewish man. Things do not go as expected, when Haman is required by the king of Persia, instead, to lavish Mordecai with honor:

Haman told his wife, Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him” (Esther 6:13).

The Hebrew is emphatic: “falling, you will fall before him! (naftol tipol lifanav).” Haman’s ruin was sure; he could not stand against Mordecai the Jew. Yet, those who now saw the handwriting on the wall were the same people who had earlier advised Haman to hang Mordecai (Esther 5:14).

Persia’s Testimony

How did Haman’s advisers know of his certain failure? They had been taught historically, scripturally and prophetically.

In the history of the past 50 years, Haman’s advisers had seen how God miraculously worked through Cyrus their king. Though Babylon and Persia had exiled the Jewish people for 70 years from their homeland, King Cyrus’s decree released them to return, as was prophesied.

While the Jews were in Babylon (which was conquered by Persia), they had the book of Daniel in their possession. These Scriptures revealed to their captors the unique power of Israel’s God:

…King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and paid homage to Daniel…”Surely your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery” (Daniel 2:46-47).

“…the God of Daniel…delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions” (Daniel 6:25-27, see also 7:27).

An early wise man from that region, Balaam, had tried his hand at this cursing Israel business and found it to be a very bad idea.

“How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? Blessed is everyone who blesses you (Israel), and cursed is everyone who curses you. I see him, but not now: I behold him, but not near; a star shall come forth from Jacob, a scepter shall rise from Israel, One from Jacob shall have dominion” (Numbers 23:8; 24:9; 17, 19).

Yes, the Jews in Babylon were under the chastening hand of their God, but they would not end in destruction. Therefore, because of historical, biblical and prophetic truth, Haman’s advisers knew that Haman was doomed to fail! God was at work to redeem Israel.

It was from this same region that the Magi would come to visit the infant Messiah. The Magi recognized the truth of Balaam’s words; that the Jews were the hope of the world, since through them alone would come the Messiah, the blessing of Abraham for the world, who shall have dominion (Matthew 2:1).

As Balaam said, “Blessed is everyone who blesses you and cursed is everyone who curses you.” This was first declared by God, Himself, to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, “And I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you, I will curse and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” There is ultimate victory for all people, for all who will believe in Yeshua the Messiah, the ultimate seed of Abraham.

In light of these truths, let us live to be an instrument of blessing to the Jews and to all people. For those who bless, even as God blesses, will ultimately succeed, even as God’s will succeeds. Right now, by blessing and trusting in Yeshua, the King of the Jews, you receive the eternal blessing of salvation and forgiveness; for as Ephesians 1:3 says, “...in Yeshua are found all the blessings of Heaven, forever!“

Excerpt from “The Messiah in the Feasts of Israel”

What then is the message of the Purim story? Simply this: God is faithful to keep His people by using any ordinary person who will repent, trust and serve Him. God wants to use you today, just as He used Esther long ago. Perhaps Mordecai’s Purim challenge to Esther is God’s challenge to you, as well. (Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you will have not attained royalty for such a time as this? Esther 4:13-14). As a result of Mordecai’s exhortation, Esther repented, pleaded to the king on behalf of her people’s welfare and the Jewish people were then preserved from extinction once again (Esther 4:15-16:7:3-6; 9:20-25).

Be spiritually pro-active in life – in your family, community and congregation.

Do not keep silent; rather, share God’s love in Yeshua with others. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1).