Esther was a Jewish woman who was selected by the Persian King Ahasuerus to be his wife. His former wife, Vashti had been banished and Esther was chosen as her replacement. However, the king did not know she was a Jew. (Esther 1-2)
Some time later King Ahasuerus began to single out Haman the son of Hamdata the Agagi for advancement; eventually he gave him precedence over all his fellow officers. All the king’s servants at the King’s Gate would kneel and bow down before Haman, because the king had so ordered. But Mordecai would neither kneel nor bow down to him. The king’s servants at the King’s Gate asked Mordecai, “Why don’t you obey the king’s order?” But after they had confronted him a number of times without his paying attention to them, they told Haman, in order to find out whether Mordecai’s explanation that he was a Jew would suffice to justify his behavior. Haman was furious when he saw that Mordecai was not kneeling and bowing down to him. However, on learning what people Mordecai belonged to, it seemed to him a waste to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Rather, he decided to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole of Ahasuerus's kingdom. (Esther 3)
What Haman was plotting was a pogrom; a bloodbath, holocaust, and massacre against the Jews. It indicates butchery, carnage, and killing. It signifies slaughter and bloodshed "against all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day." (Esther 3:13). Total annihilation of the people is what the plot was designed for. This was not the first, nor will it be the last pogrom plotted against the Jewish people.
Haman went to King Ahasuerus with news that "there is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all the other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain." (Esther 3:8)
King Ahasuerus listened to Haman, and agreed to his plan; the king said "the money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you." AND then the part that really struck me, "the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed." (Esther 3:15)
King Ahasuerus simply took Haman's word regarding the Jewish people. Obviously if the city of Shushan was perplexed by the decree to have these people slaughtered, the king should have been moved to investigate before listening to Haman. The king was ignorant and simply took Haman's word.
Christians today seem to be just as ignorant as King Ahasuerus regarding knowledge of our biblical roots, our Jewish roots. Christians can converse intelligently about the latest Facebook news, movies, fashion, music and sports, but far too few give evidence of a deep understanding of their spiritual heritage. We seem to be more focused on our daily lives, rarely looking outside our own box. And this ignorance is dangerous, very dangerous.
The news surrounding modern day Israel is overwhelming. Israel is in the midst of a current pogrom plotted by Iran (and their many allies). I myself do not understand much of what is going on with these foreign haters of Israel. Is my ignorance excusable? Absolutely not! We can be like King Ahasuerus and simply take the word of those we hear on the radio, television and social media as to what is going on in Israel and surrounding OR we can educate ourselves, step out of our ignorance and join forces with truth.
The world's news media is prejudiced against God's work and God's people. "Only those who are God-followers can properly assess history, politics and government. Everything in human history, every current event, is moving forward in His (God) timing." Therefore, when you listen to the news, listen with discernment, ask yourselves questions: "what is the real story behind this report? What is the Lord doing? How am I to be praying here? Is He expecting me to respond?
When Mordecai heard the news of what Haman was plotting, he didn't return to his daily life, or keep quiet because it was so overwhelming and much larger than himself. NO, "When Mordecai learned everything that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes and went out through the city, lamenting and crying bitterly." (Esther 4). Mordecai responded! Are you a modern day Mordecai? Are you crying out and lamenting over the hatred and plots of destruction for Israel and today's Jewish people?
You can't say you love God and not love what He loves ~ He loves Israel.
We must watch, investigate, understand and pray. We have been seated in heavenly places for a reason, at such a time as this!
Praying for Israel impacts: The World, Our Country and Our Lives!
Coming soon, the whole world will take a stand against Israel. "All nations will gather against Jerusalem and bow to a godless ruler. At that point, our earthly nationality no longer matters, all that matters is that we are born-again-into-the-kingdom fellow citizens with Israel." To whom do you bow?
Pray for peace for Jerusalem: "May those who love you be at peace!
Kelly
Your People Shall Be My People ~ Don Finto
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