Bibledoorajar begins our visit with Hadassah or Esther

      After the Nuremberg trials, ten of Hitler's henchmen were hanged for war crimes against the Jews. As Julius Streicher, Hitler's minister of propaganda approached the gallows, he was heard to say, "Purim 1946! Purim, 1946!" Apparently, somewhere along the way someone had taught Streicher about the lesson of Purim circa 583 B.C. (as recorded in the book of Esther). Streicher had apparently learned it well enough to apply it to the events leading to his death. And indeed, from the book of Esther and from the war crimes against the Jews, one learns that anti-semitism will not go unaddressed by the God of the heavens even if it is made the law of the land. God did not intend for the historic events of this book to be forgotten by Jews or their enemies. The festival of Purim is celebrated annually among the Jews to remember the defeat of a plot to exterminate them and the Esther scroll is read. The Holy Spirit has seen that the story is a permanent part of the Holy Scriptures. Enemies of the Jews, read and beware! Purim is the Persian term for "casting of lots." Men may see casting lots as chance involved with random events, but the book of Esther reveals a sovereign God behind the scenes controlling outcomes. Because of so great an assurance, Jews celebrate Purim with unbridled joy and they don't mind mocking their enemy Haman, the villain of the book! They drown out his name with noisemakers and loud shouts when it is mentioned in the retelling of the story.
     There is much to be learned about the historic events that led to this festival. For me, it warns me against believing that the Jews are forever cursed and are no longer regarded by God. For me, righteous Gentiles will love Israel and pray for their salvation even as we pray for all other men under heaven.  There are two main plots in the book of Esther. The first involves how a series of events leads to Esther becoming queen. The second involves how circumstantial happenings places Mordecai, Esther's uncle, in a place to receive the generosity of the king and to avoid death. So next week, we will begin our look at this story humbling beseeching God to deliver us from any deceits or biases of tradition that would hinder our reaping the most from this teaching and its purpose for our lives.

"Beware, lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,

after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not

after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

     Colossians 2:8-9