3/4/2026
"Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but Prophesy!"
Amos 3:7-8
Yesterday we left off with the story of Saul and King Agag who met his demise at the hand of the prophet Samuel. King Saul's disobedience led to the loss of the kingdom, and eventually led to God's covenant with David and his generations.
Now we return to the story of Esther and the celebration of Purim which is the celebration of the Jew's victory over total annihilation. Esther was Queen of Persia when King Ahasuerus was in power. She had not revealed that she was a Jew, because her cousin, Mordecai, who raised her, did not think it wise. Haman was second under the King, and he had a severe dislike for the Jews, especially Mordecai, because Mordecai would not recognize his authoritiy. Eventually, this led to Haman convincing the King that the Jews were enemies to his kingdom, and he wrote a decree to be sent to every nation under the King's control that on a certain date they would totally annihilate all the Jews who were exiled there. Once a decree is signed and sealed by the King, it becomes irrevocable. Prior to this signing of the decree, however, Mordecai had overheard two of the King's eunuchs plotting to murder him, so Mordecai informed Esther who warned the king. Once confirmed the eunuchs were hanged on a gallows, and the account written in the book of the chronicles of the king.
When Mordecai heard of Haman's conspiracy, he dressed himself in sackcloth, and when word came to Esther, Mordecai asked her to approach the King on behalf of her people. Esther knew that to approach the King without an invitation was certain death, so once she agreed to Mordecai's request, she called a three day fast with her maids and asked Mordecai to gather all the Jews who were in Shushan to fast with her. Esther approached the King, who joyfully received her, and she invited the King and Haman to a banquet. Haman was so happy that day leaving the courts, until he passed Mordecai at the gate, and he did not stand or bow to Haman. He was furious, so when he went home he shared with his wife, Zeresh, about Queen Esther's invitation exclusively for the King and himself. Then she shared with her about how Mordecai had ruined it all. "Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, 'Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made" (Esther 5:14).
It's interesting to note that Zeresh was the daughter of Governor Tattenai of the region beyond the River, from Jerusalem. When King Cyrus of Babylon decreed that the Jewish exiles' return to Israel to restore the temple in Jerusalem, Governor Tattenai was one who opposed Ezra and Zerrubbabel completing the work. A letter was sent to King Darius regarding the matter, and when it was investigated, the king discovered the decree by King Cyrus, so he basically told Governor Tattenai to back off and leave them alone plus he told the governor that if they needed any assistance that he would pay for it. So the temple was restored. Since Zeresh was the daughter of the governor perhaps she remembered this honor being shown the Jewish people, and later recalled the events.
Meanwhile, back at the castle, the night before the banquet, King Ahauserus was unable to sleep, so he had the book of the chronicles read to him. When he was reminded of the time Mordecai saved his life, he asked what reward Mordecai had been given. None had been recorded, so the king determined to rectify the situation. Early in the morning when Mordecai, happy as a lark to have Mordecai swinging from the gallows he had built, arrived at the court to request Mordecai's death, the king asked him, "What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?" Haman, naturally thought that he was the only one the king would want to honor, so he made some pretty strong demands, "For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: 'Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!'" (Esther 6:7-9). Next thing, Haman is escorting Mordecai through the streets as he recommended to the king that one be honored. When Haman returned home mortified over the morning events, his wife, who had recommended his building the gallows to hang Mordecai, said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him." (Esther 6:13). She, like her father Tattenai, knew that the Jewish people were protected.
When the second day of the feast arrived, Queen Esther revealed the real reason for the banquet and exposed the truth behind the plot to kill her kinsmen, the Jewish nation. The king was livid that anyone would dare threaten his bride and her people, and in the end Haman was hung on his own gallows. Mordecai was elevated to Haman's position and his home given to Mordecai. The decree could not be overturned, so the king allowed a new decree to be written, and the Jewish people were allowed to defend themselves. The date was set for the 12th day of Adar, the twelfth month of the year, and a second day was granted as well. The Jews killed five hundred men the first day and seventy-five thousand the second day, securing the victory! This is why Purim is celebrated on the 12th - 14th days of Adar.
It is significant to understand that this current war with Iran was initiated at this time of the year, as we are currently in the month of Adar, and the Feast of Purim has been celebrated. The war is with the Arab nation, who have threatened the Jewish nation going back to the days of Ishmael. The spirit of Amalek is the power behind the hatred of the current regime that was behind the massacre on October 7, 2023, and it has continued. Remember God's warning to the people to totally blot out the curse of Amalek.
The former Supreme Leader of Iran along with forty of his leaders were killed on February 28th when the war began. This same leader was responsible for the inhumane slaughter of his own people who were protesting against the years of persecution and deplorable conditions, as well as the senseless murder of his own people. The war has escalated, and other leaders of the IRGC have been killed, leaving the remaining army confused, weapons decimated, leading to the indiscriminate firing of rockets, drones and missiles in all directions including Israel and to their former allies. Only God knows how it will end, but we fight for the freedom of the precious Iranian and Persian people. One thing is for certain, the battle belongs to the LORD, and He will have the final say. The lives of two billion Muslims are now in the valley of decision.
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