Esther: another example of an ordinary person being used for an extraordinary purpose

Esther is a major hero of the Bible. Her story is one of only two books in the Bible named after a woman (the other book is Ruth). The Jews were exiled from Judah a hundred years earlier as Jerusalem fell in 587 BC by Babylon. When Babylon fell to Persia, Jews became under Persian power. Esther was an orphan, raised by her cousin, in a foreign land. With great beauty, she captured the eye of the most powerful man in Persia. She shows great courage in a crisis. As she faced a situation that could risk her life, she fasted as she sought God’s guidance and wisdom. Her story and actions helped create the festival of Purim. What is her story? Why is fasting important? Esther is an example of God using ordinary people for his purpose. What other examples to we have to see the power of the impossible? 

Her story begins with Vashti, the queen of Persia. When Xerxes, the king of Persia, ordered Vashti to appear before a gathering of his nobles, she refused and she was forever banished. Xerxes sought a new  queen to take Vashti’s place. Esther was among the women gathered and Mordecai urged her to keep her Jewish origins a secret. When her turn came, Xerxes was very pleased with Esther that he made her queen. After some time, a man named Haman rose to power, so powerful that others knelt before him. Everyone except Mordecai. Haman became so angry that he plotted to eliminate not just Mordecai but all Jews. When Mordecai discovered the plot, he pleaded with Esther to intervene but she knew she needed to tread lightly. In order to prepare herself for her intervention, she fasted for three days. After her fast, she sought the king. In his presence, he extends his scepter, a symbol that the audience is acceptable, and asks her for her request. This is where Esther was smart, instead of coming out and telling Xerxes about the plot, she invites the king and Haman to a series of banquets. As she gets Haman comfortable and confident, she exposes his plot to Xerxes. The king becomes furious and orders Haman’s death. A situation that could have been the death of the Jews became the celebration of Purim which is celebrated annually on the 14th and 15th days of Adar (February/March). 

Fasting is a period of time when no food is eaten and can be a tool to devote extra time in meditation and prayer. It was used in special circumstances when we seek extra consideration from God with our petitions. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, fasting has been used as a call for deeper reflection on sins and repentance. In 2 Chronicles 20:3, King Jehoshaphat called for Judah to fast in order to demonstrate their change of heart, repentance from sin and their true devotion. In Ezra 8:23, he fasted and prayed and God answered his prayer. In Joel 1:14, there’s a call to declare a holy fast as a cry out to God. However, do not use fasting as a manipulation or show how much more righteous or holy you: are compared to others. Jesus taught to fast in secret unlike the Pharisees who used it to show how holy they were (Matthew 6:16-17, Mark 2:18). They twisted the purpose of fasting. They fasted to impress others and not to please God. Isaiah 58 discusses two types of fast. First, the wicked fast (verses 3-5) is displeasing to God, filled with bitterness, strife, and deceit. This fast is the one the Pharisees embarked in because everyone knew they were fasting. They were gloomy, unapproachable and religious. Second, the purifying fast (verses 6-7) is pleasing to God as it is filled with kindness, loving your neighbor as yourself and bringing yourself closer to God. 

Esther is another example of God using the ordinary for extraordinary. She was an orphan who became queen of an empire. She was a nobody who became somebody. She risked her life to take a stand for herself and for others. The Bible is filled with the most unlikely, ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary feats for His divine purpose. He had Noah, a drunk, to build the Ark (Genesis 6-9). He took Abraham and Sarah, an older couple, and used them to build a nation (Genesis 11-25). God took Joseph, a spoiled teen, to save nations from a famine (Genesis 37-50). He took Moses, a stuttering man and and murderer, and made him a leader (Exodus 3-4). God used Rahab, a prostitute, to conquer a city (Joshua 2). He used David, a shepherd boy, to kill a giant (1 Samuel 17) and made him a king (2 Samuel 5). He took twelve ordinary men and made his disciples. God took a man who was an avowed enemy and turned him into the most prolific Christian writer in the New Testament (Acts 9:1-19). He’s not looking for people who are perfect, talented or influential. He’s looking for people who are willing and He’ll provide the rest. He is seeking someone to say “Here I am, send me” (Isaiah 6:8). God sees all our faults, our flaws and sees our heart. For what is impossible with men is possible with God (Zechariah 8:6, Luke 18:27). 

In conclusion, as a Jewish woman, Esther was weakest among the weak and God took her and placed her in a position to save His people. Earthly powers will seek to kill and destroy but heavenly powers will save and preserve. The Jews faced elimination. Their sorrow was turned into joy. Fasting is a tool we can use to give more time to meditation and prayer. It is a tool which requires humility and urgent prayer. It is not to appear more religious or holy to others but to draw closer to God and his divine purpose. Esther used fasting to prepare herself to stand up for her people, risking her life in the process. The Bible is filled with examples of God using the ordinary for the extraordinary. God can still use us, the ordinary, for his glory. We just need to be willing and he will help us become able. 

Purim: a Jewish holiday of celebration

Today is the Jewish holiday of Purim, which begins at sundown as do most Jewish holidays/ Purim is the Jewish holiday commemorating the saving of the Jewish people from genocide during the ancient Achaemenid Persian Empire and told in the Book of Esther. It is also known as the Feast of Lots. It is a day of deliverance and became a day of feasting and rejoicing. The story is one of courage in the face of death. Modern historians view the story behind the holiday differently than did the traditional historians. As well many holiday, certain foods are enjoyed during the day of feasting.

In the Book of Esther, Esther becomes queen when King Athasuerus gets rid of his wife and queen, Vashti, for refusing his order. Esther hides her Jewish heritage from the king. Shortly afterward, Mordecai, her uncle and adopted father, discovers a plot to kill the king by two of the palace guards. He reveals the plot. The two guards are hanged, and Mordecai’s service is recorded. A man named Haman becomes the king’s viceroy and is outraged when Mordecai refuses to bow down to him. When he discovers Mordecai is Jewish, he plots to kill not only Mordecai but all the Jews. Mordecai learns of the plots and goes into mourning. He would also plead Esther to intercede with the king on their people’s behalf. Esther agrees to do so despite the great risk to her life as it was upon penalty of death to approach the king. At a feast, Esther reveals she is Jewish and exposes Haman’s plot to kill the Jews. The king becomes enraged and orders Haman to be executed instead.

Traditional historians have written about the events of the Book of Esther. Berossus from the early third century BCE, wrote the context for the account in the introduction of idols of Anahita under Artaxerxes II Mnemom throughout the Persian Empire. Josephus from the first century CE recounts the origins of Purim in the 11^th book of his Antiquities of the Jews which follows the original biblical account as well as information in the Greek version, the Septuagint. The Islamic historian from 915 CE, Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, gives a brief Persian account similarly to Jewish and Christian sources as well as additional details. However, modern historian argue that Purim has no historical basis. Amnon Netzer argues that “Mordecai” and “Esther” are names derived from the Babylonian gods, Marduk and Ishtar (Netzer, 1999). Shaul Shaked argues that the Book of Esther is historical fiction despite its accurate account of the Achaemenid court (Shaked, 1998).

Purim is more a national rather than religious holiday, on a different level than days ordained as holy by the Torah. There are four main mitzvot (obligations). First, listening to a public reading, usually a synagogue, of the Book of Esther in the morning and in the morning. Second, sending food gifts to friends. Third, giving charity to the poor. Lastly, eating a festive meal. The customs of Purim including a greeting “Chag Purim Sameach” which in Hebrew which loosely translate to “Happy Purim Holiday.” Another custom is masquerading in costumes and masks, believed to originate with Italian Jews in the end of the 15^th century. One explanation for this custom is given as to emulating God who was “disguised” during the events of the Book of Esther and remained concealed yet present in Jewish history. Hamantaschen (Haman’s pockets), a traditional food made among Ashkenazi Jews, is a sweet pastry dough filled with a poppy seed filling and folded into a triangle. More recently, prunes, dates, apricots, apples, and chocolate fillings have been used. Fazuelos, a traditional food among the Sephardi Jews, is a fried thin pastry.

In conclusion, Purim is the Festival of Lots which commemorates the Jewish people being saved from execution and the courage of one woman to stand up and say something despite cultural rules dictating she remain silent. The Book of Esther details the story behind Haman’s plot to kill the Jews and Esther’s plan to expose his evil intentions. Throughout history, the views of the story range as historical to fiction. The day is filled with customs and food. The foods made during the holiday symbolize the events and people involved. To the Jewish community, Chag Purim Sameach!

References

Netzer, Amnon. Festivals vii, Jewish. In Encyclopaedia Iranica, vol. 9, 1999, pp. 555-60.

Shaked, Shaul. Esther, Book of. In Encyclopaedia Iranica, vol. 8, 1998, pp. 655-57.

Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther: when God seems silent

Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther are known as the post-captivity books. Ezra, the faithful scribe, records the Jews returning to their homeland after 70 years of captivity in Babylon. His records show God’s faithfulness to keep His promise to restore his people to their land. Nehemiah demonstrates leaders as he guides the Jews to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Finally, Esther is the story of courage to stand up to certain death for the livelihood of others and the celebration created as a reminder of that courage. Many people will point out that God is silent in these books. Although God doesn’t speak in these books, He isn’t inactive as the events unfold and His guidance is seen in the faithfulness and devotion of these three people.

Ezra, the true and faithful scribe, records the events which return the Jews to Jerusalem. The Lord moved in the heart of Cyrus, the king of Persia as he proclaimed that the temple was to be rebuilt in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-2). Despite opposition from some Persian officials, the rebuilding begins with the king’s increasing support. Ezra was a committed student of the Law. He was determined to follow and teach the God’s word. Once the Jews were back in Jerusalem, he was determined to get the Jews back on track with God as he taught the Law to the returning families. Ezra showed the people that God kept His promise to return them to their land and they must show their gratitude by returning to God and the practice of His Word. “For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). Ezra is an example of how devotion and commitment to knowing and practicing God’s Word has a direct effect on how God works in our lives.

Nehemiah, the rebuilder of walls, was the cupbearer to the king (Nehemiah 1:11). A cupbearer was an important position. He was to ensure the safety and quality of the king’s drink. It also gave him unique opportunities to speak with the king. As Nehemiah waited for the right moment to approach the king with his requests, King Artaxerxes notices Nehemiah’s distress and opens the door for Nehemiah ask to be sent to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of the city (Nehemiah 2:1-6). In Jerusalem, Nehemiah was the type of leader which gets the work done. He carefully planned and encourage teamwork as he solved problems which often arise when people work together. He also have courage and tremendous faith to get the work done even if it meant getting dirty with the workers himself. He was a leader that people will follow. “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me and what they king had said to me. They replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began the good work” (Nehemiah 2:18).

Esther, the Jewish orphan who become queen and she was placed in a position to risk for her life for others. Her cousin, Mordecai, had overheard a plot to kill the Jews by the government official Haman and he became distress as it was a king’s decree. Word got back to Esther about the plot and Mordecai pleads with her to tell the king (Esther 4:13-14). She agrees, “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). Esther devises a clever plan to expose the plot to the king by throwing a feast for Haman. At the banquet, she makes one more request. She asks the king to spare her people and the king is outraged that such a thing was plotted (Esther 7:3-5). She exposes Haman as the plotter and he is hanged. The king then decrees that the Jews had the right to protect themselves from whoever tried to do them harm (Esther 7:11). In response to these events, the Jews began a new celebration, Purim. Purim is celebrated as a day of joy and feasting. It is a day of giving presents to one another in remembrance of Esther’s bravery and courage.

In conclusion, while God is silent in these three books, He certainly isn’t inactive. He sent in motion the Jews return to their lands. He can be seen in the story of Ezra, a man who never forgot where he was from. He worked within the law of the land he lived with respect but he never let God’s law become second. He can be seen in the story of Nehemiah, a godly leader, one who isn’t afraid to work alongside the men to complete the work as well as caring for his men when the practice wasn’t so generous. And He can be seen in the story of Esther, a woman who hid her true heritage, only to reveal it when a greater threat loomed. From these examples, we need to remember that when God seems to be silent, He is working. He is working in your life and when you least expect it, that work will be reveal. Follow the examples of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther, keep the faith and trust in God.