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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Esther 9:5
The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them.
The edict had to stay.
That said that the Jews were to be destroyed, killed and annihilated, whether young or old, men, women or children. But the new edict said that they could defend themselves and fight back. The last verse of Chapter 8 reads, “And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them” (8:17).
About 800 people were killed in Suza, the capital, and a further 75,000 throughout the provinces but not one Jew. The people were very afraid - not only because of the edict, but also because Mordecai, the Jew, had been made Prime Minister. Number 2 in the land. Suddenly anti-Semitism died out and everyone thought the Jews were great and Mordecai terrific.
So, as I said before, God had it all under control - He didn’t miss the deadline. Just when Satan thought he had won, he found that God thwarted his plan, caused it to come to nought but more than that - those that he had used to carry out his plans were beaten and killed. Furthermore, the 10 sons of Haman were hanged on their father’s gallows.
It is also interesting that in the initial edict, the people were not only to annihilate the Jews but also to take their possessions as plunder. The Jews were subsequently authorised to do the same, but they did not take the plunder.
This is the way God does things. They were victorious but not arrogant or greedy. They had won their lives and peace - they didn’t need to make any further point.
If you were a Jew - how would you feel? They were sentenced to death - total annihilation was certain and sure. But God miraculously delivered them. They never forgot their deliverance from Egypt and thus celebrated Passover. They never forgot Haman either and still celebrate Purim, even today, as requested by Mordecai.
Have you been delivered like that? Do you know what it means to have your life spared?
Do you still celebrate the Lord’s Supper or do you just take your salvation for granted?
For us, Jesus is the One who died in our place. We were the ones under the sentence of Almighty God to experience His wrath, but we have been saved by the shed blood of His dear One and Only Son. The edict remains - but Jesus has paid the price.
Don’t you think it’s time to celebrate that deliverance once more and to give Him thanks?
Why not do it today, right now?
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