This Purim, be an Ally

  “the Jews established and made a custom for themselves and for their descendants and for all those who allied themselves with them, so that they would not fail to celebrate these two days according to their regulation and according to their appointed time annually.” – Esther 9:27 NASB95

As I prepare to celebrate Purim tonight, my mind goes to the fact that I am joining a celebration with all of Israel, that, in the midst of a time of celebration, there are still hostages being held in Gaza. But even with such a harsh reality, I am reminded that my faith should rise today. I should pray for the faith of all Israel to rise, and believe God for the release of all remaining hostages, and pray for the emotional, physical, and mental recovery of former hostages, their families, and all the people of Israel.

You see, the story of Purim is the story of a wicked man who was full of Jew-hatred that can only originate from the devil himself. The same spirit that drove the evil man in the Purim story drove Hitler, and it’s driving Hamas. In the story of Esther, the wicked man tricked the king into issuing a decree to murder all the Jews. But through prayer and fasting and the courage of Esther, that decree was overtaken by a decree that the Jews could defend themselves.

The story of Purim is one of turnaround. The bad guy in the story was so full of pride that when the king wanted to honor someone, he thought, who else would the king want to honor more than me? As it turned out, the king desired to honor a Jew. The wicked man ended up suffering the fate he desired and planned for Mordecai the Jew. The Jews are God’s covenant people, and throughout history, even in tragedy, we see that God ultimately rescues His people.

As we continue praying for the release of the hostages and the end of Hamas, many Christians wonder what Israel has to do with them. The answer is found at the end of the Book of Esther, “and for all those who allied themselves with them [the Jews].”

The Jewish people and the nation of Israel should have no greater ally than Christians. Sadly, many Christians are slowly giving over to the spirit that has driven antisemitism through the years.

My prayer today for all the Christians who don’t even know that today is Purim, for the Christians who have the seeds of Jew-hatred beginning to sprout, that right now they would open themselves to the work of the Holy Spirit, and they would root out theological and political antisemitism from their minds and hearts.

Take time tonight to read the Book of Esther and read it again tomorrow. Digest and think through the story, see God’s hand, and choose to ally with God’s chosen people.