“And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.”
Esther 9:20-22 ESV
I could not have known when we began our journey into the “Year of Realization,” that this portion of our journey would be completed just before the day we celebrate our risen Savior.
As we had mentioned before, the Lord gave us the story of Esther as the paradigm we should consider in terms of the events of this year.
As we have carefully considered the story of Esther, we have seen certain truths being repeated. Here are five of those truths:
God is faithful.
Forces of evil want to destroy those faithful to the Lord.
God can cause the plotting of the enemy to boomerang.
The greatest moves of God happen in the face of adversity.
No matter what it looks like, the Lord and His faithful children are always victorious.
In our opening scripture we see Mordecai instituting a yearly feast honoring and celebrating what God has done for them in bringing them victory over the evil plot of Haman.
Indeed, on Good Friday we remember the sacrifice of the precious Lamb of God through Whom we have forgiveness of sin. Then, we rejoice on Resurrection Sunday that He was victorious over death, hell, and the grave. And in so doing, He has given us authority over the works of the enemy! We don’t have to be destroyed!
The story of Esther is a wonderful story of God‘s faithfulness to rescue His people who were facing destruction through an evil plot.
But, the story of the cross is the story of the greatest rescue mission of all rescue missions! We were grabbed from the jaws of destruction, connected to the Dynamo of God, and promised an eternity ruling and reigning with our Lord. Now that’s reason to celebrate!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
“This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness.”
Esther 9:17 ESV
Elijah had just come from the “battle of the gods” on Mount Carmel where—not only did he prove that the Lord is the true God—he killed all of the prophets of Baal and Asherah who had come there.
Having heard of these events from King Ahab, Jezebel issues a dire threat to Elijah. This threat, on top of the intensity of the Carmel showdown, apparently left Elijah tired and despondent. Elijah ran from the wrath of Jezebel and despaired to live.
“But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers."”
1 Kings 19:4 ESV
The Lord in His mercy and understanding sent an angel to minister to Elijah’s physical exhaustion.
“And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, "Arise and eat." And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you." And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.”
1 Kings 19:5-8 ESV
After being strengthened physically and mentally Elijah headed to the mountain of God where the Lord would speak to him, giving him his final instructions before he was taken from the earth on a chariot of fire.
Conflict isn’t easy; extended conflict can leave the participant with battle fatigue. It seems that Elijah experienced something we all may experience at one time or another in our lives, and that is feeling devoid of strength to carry on.
Now, we know that Elijah was not suicidal or he would’ve just stayed and let Jezebel kill him. But, he did not know how he could continue on with this level of adversity and assault.
The Lord knows how much we can bear and will not push us past that point. Additionally, just as He did with Elijah, He will provide oases in our dry, barren, and hostile, circumstances.
And—even better than that—the Lord has promised that if we come under His authority, He will provide rest even in the midst of our labor.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."”
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
In our opening scripture we see that the Jews—having experienced a great victory over those who would have destroyed them—have a season of rest and a reason to rejoice.
Child of God, don’t allow the intense warfare involved in navigating a fallen world reeling toward ultimate destruction, steal your rest. Remember, the offer remains: “Come to Me.”
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
“Esther replied, “If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Susa to act tomorrow also in accordance with the decree of today; and let [the dead bodies of] Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.””
Esther 9:13 AMP
The march of triumph was a rite of ancient Rome wherein an army commander would be venerated with a public display involving basically a parade. The honoree would lead the march in a chariot, wearing kingly attire. Behind him would be the prisoners of war and the spoil. The parade would end at the Capitolium where the honored commander would pay homage to Jupiter.
This particular rite is used by the apostle Paul as a metaphor for the work God did through Jesus Christ.
“When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross.”
Colossians 2:15 AMP
Interestingly, the Lord’s captives include those who trust and believe in Him. But, rather than being captives being put to shame, we are captives who will share His glory!
“But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.”
2 Corinthians 2:14 NLT
Now, whereas we will be publicly honored with Christ, His enemies—even the devil himself—will be put to open shame.
“But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms,”
Isaiah 14:15-16 ESV
In our opening scripture we see that—having been asked by the king what he can further do for her—Esther asks for another day of vengeance for the Jews, along with the already executed sons of Haman being put to open shame.
Yes, I understand that it sometimes looks like evil is winning. But remember, the devil is an already-defeated foe through Jesus Christ. What we are seeing now are the death throes of the fallen one and those who misplaced their allegiance with him.
Soon, all the fallen principalities and powers, along with those who threw in with them, will be put to open shame for all creation to see!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!