While we all step back, take a deep breath, and wait to see what the fallout will be following Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, let’s pause to consider the Jewish celebration of Purim, which begins at sunset tonight.  (A Jewish calendar day begins and ends at sundown.)   Not only is it a celebratory time for Jews, but I think there are some interesting correlations with current events as well.

Purim is a Jewish festival commemorating the miraculous salvation of the Jews, the account of which is found in the book of Esther.  In brief, the Jews were exiled to Babylon around 600-587 BC, and in 540 BC (while the Jews were still in exile there), Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians.  Around 486 BC, Ahasuerus (Xerxes) became king of Persia.  Shortly thereafter, the king’s wife, Vashti, was executed for failing to obey the commands of her intoxicated husband, so a beauty pageant was held to find a new wife for King Ahasuerus.  A Jewish woman, Esther, was chosen to be queen, though King Ahasuerus was unaware she was a Jew.  A wicked man named Haman was prime minister and he set out to exterminate the Jews.

A righteous Jewish man, Mordechai (who happened to be Esther’s cousin), defied orders and refused to bow to Haman.  This infuriated Haman and he convinced the king to issue a decree ordering the extermination of all Jews.  This was to commence on the 13^th of the Jewish month, Adar.  However, Mordechai rallied the Jews, convincing them to repent, fast and pray; and Esther risked her life to reveal her true nationality to her husband, King Ahasuerus, and asked for favor for her people.  Ahasuerus granted her request.  Thus, Haman’s plot to kill the Jews was uncovered, he was hanged instead, and Mordechai was appointed prime minister in his place.  On the 14^th of Adar, the Jews celebrated.

Haman had chosen the date of execution of Jews by lottery.  Thus, the Jews celebrate Purim (which means “lots”) on the 14^th of Adar.  On the Jewish calendar, today is the 14^th of Adar, so Jews worldwide are celebrating by hearing the Megillah (reading of the book of Esther), giving to the needy (to symbolize Jewish unity), sending food gifts to friends (to celebrate the importance of friendship), and enjoying a festive Purim meal with family and friends.  It is a very joyful occasion in Israel, and in Jewish homes around the world.

But I believe there is some irony here.  In the days of Esther, Persia conquered Babylon, and an evil Persian ruler (Haman) set out to rid the world of Jews.  Today, Persia (modern-day Iran) holds power over Babylon (modern-day Iraq), and also has a modern-day Haman (Ayatollah Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani) vowing to exterminate Jews everywhere.

But God had special plans for Mordechai and Esther, two faithful Jews who gave up their own “identity” for a time, in order to fulfill a plan God had for them.  You see, Mordechai had this to say to Esther before her daring revelation to her husband that she was a Jew:

“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 have not attained royalty
for such a time as this?”
~Esther 4:13-14

Regardless of what you might think about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, I simply can’t help but wonder if the basic premise of Mordechai’s words to Esther fit the bill for Netanyahu at this time.  Consider this parallel, in light of current events:

“Do not imagine that you, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a place of power, honor, and prestige can escape any more than all the Jews.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance may or may not arise for the Jews from another place and you and the land of Israel will be in great peril.  And who knows whether you have not attained your position of power for such a time as this?”

I mean no disrespect for Scripture in that paraphrase.  I just find a bit of potential irony between God’s calling of Mordechai and Esther to save the Jewish people from an evil Persian terrorist, and God’s calling of an Israeli Prime Minister to defend the Jewish people from evil Persian terrorists of today.

Something to contemplate….

(Netanyahu’s speech may be viewed in its entirety here.)