FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS… It all began with an official who had an intense hatred for a group of people who had become part of his nation. He used his position to persuade the King to schedule their total annihilation. God intervened, prompting an unlikely savior of the people through these timeless words: "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Though the exiled remnant of Israel, known as Judah, were allowed to return to their homeland, some chose to remain in Persia where they had lived for over 50 years. They kept their nationality a secret, and even used Persian names.

Even so, a lot was cast by the Persian Prime Minister, Haman, to select the date for the annihilation of every single person of Judah who remained in Persia. “…The day was to be the 13th day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar…” Esther 3:13

In response, a beautiful young woman of Judah, chosen to marry the Persian King Xerxes, was encouraged by her cousin, Mordecai, to go to the King and intervene on behalf of her people. Mordecai sent her a letter penned with the unforgettable words: "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

This young woman's Persian name was Esther, but she was born with the name Hadassah, which represents righteousness. She certainly lived out her name when she went to King Xerxes without being summoned, an offense punishable by death. Fearlessly, she revealed her hidden heritage, and begged for mercy for herself and her people. She successfully interceded, and secured the lives of the remnant nation of Judah. She also set a trap for Prime Minister Haman which resulted in his execution.

The edict by King Xerxes that had previously doomed the remaining people of Judah to death, was reversed, and the very same King gave them the royal right to defend themselves and to pay their enemies back. And in little more than two months!

Less than 9 months following the King's announcement of the scheduled assault, the targeted people routed their enemy when they attacked. Chapter 9 of Esther tells the story and this one sentence stands out. "...No one could stand against them, because the people of all other nationalities were afraid of them."

God intervened in the affairs of mankind, bringing his chosen servant, Esther, to the place where she would exalt Him by trusting Him with her life. As a result, the remnant of Israel defeated their enemies in only 2 days. Esther became Queen of Persia, the largest empire on the earth during her lifetime. Mordecai was appointed second in ruling rank to King Xerxes himself.

Mordecai wrote everything down that had happened, and then he sent letters to all the people of Judah in King Xerxes’ provinces. He told them to celebrate their great deliverance every year on 14th and 15th days of the month of Adar. “They were to celebrate those days because on those days the people from Judah got rid of their enemies. And they were also to celebrate that month as the month when their sadness was turned into joy. It was a month when their crying was changed into a day of celebration…" Esther 9:21-22

“(Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur… These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated…nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.” Esther 9:26, 28

The lesson of Purim should be an extremely important one to us as Christians. Truly, we can see many faces of our Messiah in this ancient accounting of national deliverance from their enemies. Jesus is our Intercessor, our Esther. He is our Encourager, our Mordecai. He is our Merciful King, our Xerxes.

Last, but definitely not least, we should see ourselves in Haman: the prideful, haughty, manipulative schemer with his own agenda to fulfill. Because the truth is that we all desperately need to be saved from ourselves and our destructive tendencies. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.

God's Word is the only eternally calibrated clock in the entire universe, and His timing is always perfect. According to His calendar, the evening of March 4 on our 2023 calendar began the 13th day of the 12th month of Adar, the same ancient date chosen for the annihilation of the remnant nation of Judah who lived in Persia. The next two days, March 5 and 6 were the 2 days appointed to celebrate their deliverance from certain death.

What's important to remember is that around 2500 years ago on the 13th day of Adar, the remnant of a once mighty nation chosen by God was delivered from their enemy. And God chose to protect them through the unlikely union of a young girl from Judah and a Middle Eastern ruler. This lesson seems to fall in line perfectly with last week's lesson when God chose another Persian ruler, King Cyrus, to give His chosen people the opportunity to return to their Promised Land and rebuild the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. https://www.facebook.com/fontanacommunitychurch/posts/pfbid02vimMp7UkgZZoBzGFxDvJom18kAJBLPF1myzDU3WYCMZLWEbLuugqZfi5QnVsLbssl

The deliverance of God's people in the manner He chooses, continues to leave us mesmerized and dumbfounded. His plan not only includes overcoming obstacles among those claiming to align themselves with His own heart, but also reaching out and moving in the hearts of hardened pagan nations and leaders, if He so desires. He is always looking for the heart that will follow His leading…

“FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS”