Church’s Purpose
Perhaps the least known directive of God for His church is in relation to Israel.
March 17, 2023
Perhaps the least known directive of God for His church is in relation to Israel.
God’s purpose and choice of Israel as His witness was for to be a light to the Gentiles. Through her, He would reveal to the Gentiles His character and His ways.
Interestingly Purim occurs exactly one month before Passover. As Purim ends the holiday cycle and Passover begins it, we see God wants the world to know His glory through His protection and deliverance of Israel.
Sadly many people think that the God of the Old Testament is different than the God revealed in the New Testament. But we see through the story of Queen Esther that God is and has always been a God of grace.
Every story must have a hero as well as a villain. In the story of Purim, Esther certainly has a leading role, but I suggest Mordecai is the real hero. It was he who raised Esther to be a God fearer. It was Mordecai who refused to compromise his faith in the God of Israel. And it was Mordecai who gave Esther the challenge which made the difference and resulted in the deliverance of Israel.
Although God’s name is never mentioned in the Book of Esther, His sovereignty and presence are evident as He brings a perfect ending to what seems to be a disastrous situation.
Historically, Haman, came between Pharaoh and Herod.
Haman, the administrator to the King of Persia is a precursor to the antichrist. Haman, like the antichrist will be motivated by Satan to scheme towards the total destruction of the Jewish people. He will devise a way in which the King would find himself in an untenable situation. But God always has His way of protecting the Jews.
History repeated itself thousands of years later when Herod, Rome’s governor in Israel, tried to destroy the promised Redeemer by killing all the young Jewish boys.
Satan has always had his minions. The first attempt to annihilate Israel was in Egypt. The Jewish people had come into Egypt at the invitation of the Pharaoh because of his admiration of his trusted administrator Joseph son of Jacob. Jacob’s family of 70 came into Egypt and was treated as special guests. But…
Almost from the beginning of recorded history the Jewish people have faced more enemies than any other people. One nation after another, one leader after another has tried to cause their total annihilation. But not one of them has succeeded. Israel has always won the victory.
Only the King could save the Jewish people and that only by issuing another decree. Esther had to talk to the King. To prepare for this meeting Esther asked all the Jews to fast. In commemoration of that fast many people today still fast the day before Purim praying for God’s continual preservation of Israel.
In a few days, the Jewish people will be celebrating Purim. Purim is not a Levitical feast, but like most of the other feasts of the Lord, it commemorates God’s deliverance of Israel from another attempted annihilation, this time by the King of Persia (modern day Iran.).
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