FEAST OF ESTHER

Then Mor′decai told them to return answer to Esther, “Think not that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther 4: 13-17

Next week we here in Israel will be celebrating the Festival of Purim, which commemorates the events recorded in the Book of Esther.

If you have been in Israel at this time you will have noticed Purim is celebrated in Jerusalem a day later than elsewhere. This second day of Purim is known as Shushan Purim. The Book of Esther records that, throughout the Persian Empire, the Jews fought against those who sought to destroy them on the 13th of the month of Adar, and then on the 14th they celebrated their victory. In Shushan, the capital of the Persian Empire, the fighting continued a second day finishing on the 14th of Adar and the Jews there held their celebrations on the 15th of Adar. Since then the Jews of Shushan, in south-western Iran today, celebrate Purim on the 15th, as did the Jewish inhabitants of all the cities that were walled at the time Joshua led the people of Israel into Canaan. Jerusalem is the only city we know for sure was walled at that time, and therefore in Jerusalem we celebrate Shushan Purim on the 15th of Adar . There are also some other cities in Israel that perhaps were walled at that time, for example Jaffa (Yafo) and Tiberias (Teveria), and these cities celebrate both on the 14th and 15th (1).

No matter when it is celebrated Purim is a joyous festival during which we remember the faithfulness of God with great rejoicing and fun. People dress up in costumes during the festival and for several days before and after. Most towns hold Purim Parades. There is much feasting and fun and we eat the traditional food, Hamantaschen (Haman’s Ears). Gifts are given, especially to the poor. In the synagogues the whole Scroll of Esther is read. During the reading people, especially the children, make much noise with graggers (wooden or plastic devices which make a noise when spun), booing and stomping every time the name of Haman, who plotted the annihilation of the Jews, is mentioned.

Although Purim is a fun festival, and sometimes a little silly, there is a very serious message hidden in the festivities. Just as the name of God is not mentioned even once in the Book of Esther his hidden working is evident as the events unfold. For example, we are told in chapters 5-6 that the very night before the moment when Haman purposed to seek the King’s approval of his plan to hang Mordecai, the King was unable to sleep. He therefore called upon his servants to read to him from the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles. Perhaps he expected this book to bore him to sleep but instead he read about how Mordecai had saved his life and the King purposed to make sure that Mordecai was suitably rewarded the next day. So it was when Haman came to destroy Mordecai he found himself being forced to bless Mordecai instead. This story reminds me of how God often works in our lives, not with big dramatic miracles, but rather in the quiet, almost hidden, ordering of the timing of events.

It is encouraging to remember that God is quietly working out his perfect Will, especially at the darkest times when all seems hopeless. How fearful the Jews of Esther’s time must have been as the date of their planned annihilation drew near. Little did they know that their salvation was near and their mourning would be turned to joy.

And Mor′decai recorded these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasu-e′rus, both near and far,  enjoining them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year,  as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending choice portions to one another and gifts to the poor.

Esther 9: 20-22

These days things seem pretty black in the world as we face the spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic. As the governments scramble to try and stop its spread it seems likely they will fail at least in the short term and there will be many deaths and severe economic problems as a result. However we, like the Jews of Persia, have been given the means to defend ourselves, not swords and shields, but rather the weapon of prayer. Mordecai encouraged Esther to speak up saying, ” … who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? ” Who knows that perhaps you and I were brought into the kingdom just for this moment, just for this purpose, to pray against this ‘spirit of infirmity’ that is sweeping across the world these days. Perhaps God will have mercy on the world and stay this plague and perhaps he will use it to bring many to faith as they cry out for help and are brought to their knees before God in desperation.

In the book of Revelation, those who have been washed in the atoning blood of Yeshua (Jesus) are called a kings and priests (or a kingdom of priests),

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,  and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 1: 5-6 NKJV

In the true church there is no need for priests for all those who have been washed in the blood of Yeshua have direct access to God (Hebrews 10:19) and the Great High Priest, Yeshua himself, intercedes for us. The sacrifice of animals for sin is no longer needed as Yeshua made that sacrifice in his blood, once and for all. However those who are not of Yeshua do not have access to God and are still in the need of priests to intercede for them. I believe that is our job, as a kingdom of priests. We all need to be intercessors praying for the mercy of God on behalf of the people of the world. In Revelation 5 and 8 the prayers of the saints rise up to God as incense.

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Revelation 5:8

The world needs our prayers now perhaps as never before. This virus could to get out of control, kill thousands, if not millions of people, and bring about a total collapse of the world economy. However if we call upon God to have mercy on the people who knows but that He might just say “Stop”. This is the message of Esther.

Coronovirus in Israel

Some of you might be wondering what the situation in Israel is in respect of the Covid-19 coronvirus. Israel has put in place strict measures to prevent the spread of the virus and so far cases have been few (25 confirmed as of today 08/03, one of whom is in a serious and deteriorating condition), but increasing every day. Most of the cases are the result of people contracting the disease while abroad or after having come in contact with tourists carrying the disease. Consequently Israel has closed its borders to visitors from many countries in the far East and in Europe, and is even considering including the USA in this list. Israeli residents returning from those countries must go into quarantine for 14 days upon their return. Laws have been put in place to enforce this ruling, with a sentence of up to 7 years imprisonment for violations leading to the infection of others. So far there are about 80,000 Israelis in home quarantine. Gatherings of more than 5000 people have been banned and the general public warned to avoid meeting in large groups as far as possible, especially those most vulnerable. Will these measures be enough? Probably not, and they are likely to be increased in the coming days. However I feel that Israel has perhaps a better chance than many other countries in the region of weathering this storm. Because of our constant war readiness and experience, the authorities are better prepared and the general public used to dealing with emergency measures and less likely to panic. That said, please pray for our protection – that God will supernaturally seal our borders and protect the people. Pray too that the hearts of the people will be turned to the LORD at this time.

Coronavirus in the Palestinian Areas

Israel is working with the Palestinian Authority to control the spread of the virus in the West Bank. Following contact with a group of Greek tourists 19 people in Beit Jala have tested positive for the disease and are now in quarantine in Jericho. The city of Bethlehem and the adjacent towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour have been put in total lockdown. As many people in these towns work in Israel this represents a severe economic stress for these families. Many of the people of these towns feel this is unnecessarily severe especially since these tourists entered the area from Israel and no Israeli towns have been quarantined as a result. However it is not only the Israeli authorities that are taking strict measures, the Palestinian Authority too has introduced stringent measures. Schools, universities, churches and mosques there are closed, tourists are barred from entering teh cities and traffic between districts and regions restricted. Israel has assisted with the evacuation of tourists from Bethlehem and other West Bank towns (2).

So far there have been no reported cases of the virus in the Gaza Strip, but I fear what would happen there should the virus manage to enter. Their medical and emergency resources are very limited.

Israeli Elections III.

All the hype about the coronovirus somewhat eclipsed the third round of elections here in Israel on the 2nd. In spite of the the weariness of the public, and the fears of the spreading virus, there was a very high turn out, 70% of eligible voters. The final vote count is not yet published but the provisional results are as follows:

Likud: 36   (1,349,171 votes, 29.48%)
Blue and White: 33   (1,217,101 votes, 26.59%)
The Joint List: 15   (577,355 votes, 12.61%%)
Shas: 9   (352,443 votes, 7.7%)
UTJ: 7  (273,900 votes, 5.98%)
Labor-Gesher-Meretz: 7   (267,362 votes, 5.85%)
Yisrael Beytenu: 7   (262,840 votes, 5.74%)
Yamina: 6   (240,162 votes, 5.25%)

In spite of increasing his lead, Netanyahu is unlikely to be able to form a coalition government as his Right-Religious block (Likud, Shas, UTJ, and Yamina) gives him only 58 seats, three short of the 61 he needs. The Center-left block (Blue and White, and Labor-Gesher_Meretz) has only 40 seats and therefore could not form a government even with the Joint Arab List’s 15 seats. Once again Avigdor Leiberman’s Yisrael Beytenu Party is standing in the position of king maker. He has made it clear in a tweet that “We will not join any government led by [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu that includes Shas and United Torah Judaism” (4). We will see what he will do after the final confirmed results of the election are publicized tomorrow. We are all just hoping that we will not be forced into yet another, fourth, round of elections. We badly need a government but please pray that it is the right government for Israel at this time. What that ‘right government’ actually is, I have no idea, but God knows and we can pray “God’s will be done on Earth”.

Spring is here

After a very long and wet winter we have been delighted in the past week or so to see at last some lovely sunny days. We had our first spring sharav (the hot, dry east wind) last week though it was weak and the temperature only got up to 25 degrees – but lovely to get into double digits again!! The land is looking its best. It is lush and green and there are loads and loads of beautiful spring flowers garnishing our land.

References:

1. https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/default_cdo/jewish/Purim.htm
2. https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/.premium-bethlehem-becomes-a-ghost-town-after-coronavirus-closure-1.8635434
3. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Israeli-elections-CEC-announces-first-results-619541
4. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Liberman-holds-onto-kingmaker-role-by-slim-majority-619561