The Purim of Today
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Israpundit's Ted Belman reports in Israel is here to stay - Am Yisrael Chai.
Beit Halochem (Disabled Veterans of Israel) hosted an evening tonight in Toronto at which Efraim Eitan MK spoke. I was there.Also, Yoram Ettinger reports on The significance of Purim 2007.
Effie reached the level of Brigadier General in the IDF and is a member of the Israeli parliament’s Security and Foreign Affairs Committee. As a result he was in the loop with those who were investigating the failures in the recent war in Lebanon. The Washinton Times recently reported on his talk to members of Congress.
Here’s what he reported tonight.
... If all else fails Israel will destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities and set them back for many years. The US has been so advised. Jews all over the world and Americans too must be prepared to protect themselves thereafter.
...Finally he stressed that, if Israel is to survive for another two thousand years and beyond, it must reaffirm its biblical connection and be a Jewish state. Not a state like all the others. I totally agree.
Side Note Speaking of the need for the Messianic community to develop a solid online presence in the blogosphere, check out Michael Freund's analysis at the JPost: Right On!: Circumvent old media-go for the blogosphere.
The things that struck me when reading the Megillah this year...
3:6 However, on learning what people Moredekhai belonged to, it seemed to him a waste to lay hands on Mordekhai alone. Rather, he decided to destroy all of Mordekhai's people, the Jews, throughout the whole of Achashverosh's kingdom.
When one of us is a target, we're all targets. E Pluribus Unum didn't start in 1776.
5:9 That day Haman went out happy and in good spirits. But when Haman saw Mordekhai at the King's Gate, that he neither rose nor moved for him, Haman was infuriated at Mordekhai.
Our refusal as Jews to give control over our loyalty and eternal allegiance to anyone but HaShem is the source of complete frustration to any other human being or people group that does not know Adonai. Why? Because human relationships are all about control. When other groups/people realize that they cannot control us, we become a frustration. When they realize that we submit to the One Eternal Authority Who, in turn, grants us complete liberty in our loyalty, we become a source of confusion. Combine frustration and confusion and you get fear. Fear results in the application of defense mechanisms plus rash emotions and, boom: the Jews must be wiped off the face of the earth.
6:13 After Haman had told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordekhai, before whom you have begun to fall, is a Jew, you will not get the better of him; on the contrary, your downfall before him is certain."
Although we're an object of fear and loathing, we still retain ultimate power and victory in the minds of our enemies. It's as if they're sure of their own defeat. If only we had such confidence in ourselves!
8:13 ...and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance against their enemies.
Achashverosh gave Hadassah and Mordecai the authority to issue a decree in his name regarding the lives of the Jewish people. In turn, Esther and Mordecai did not rescind the king's original declaration (to kill the Jews) but, rather, they place the power of defense in the hands of their kinsman. Our history is made up of unique individuals who responded to the call of Adonai and, in turn, were used by Him to save our nation. Salvation and empowerment go hand in hand. Whether it is a military victory that results in the expansion of the physical kingdom (David), or a mortal victory that results in the expansion of the spiritual kingdom (Yeshua), the fruits of the victory rain down upon both the individual leader and the nation as a whole. When Hadassah and Mordecai answered the call and conquered Haman, they secured the future of the Jewish people and empowered them with the authority to confront and conquer their enemies. When Yeshua conquered death, He not only secured for us everlasting life, He bestowed upon us the authority to use His name in trust to confront and conquer the powers and principalities of darkness-- the Hamans in our own lives.
8:17 ...Many from the peoples of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews had overcome them.
For clarification, here's a few other translations:
And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them. [New Living]
And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them. [NIV]
And many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them. [JPS Tanach 1917]
Is this the ancient employment of the phrase, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em"? Or is it a literal effect of being confronted with the power of G-d? HaShem did say, "If you fear Me and My Armies, you need fear nothing else." In any case, the goyim knew who the real winners were, and obviously wanted to be on their team.
10:3 He sought the good of his people and interceded for the welfare of all their descendants.
When people think of Purim and the book of Esther, they think of...who else? Esther. But, really, the account isn't all about her; Esther's role, while pivotal, is minor; Mordecai says so. We think of her as a great heroine, but truthfully, if she hadn't stepped in, Adonai would've used someone else to achieve His goals for that appointed time. We look up to Esther because she was willing to do what was right, even if it meant risking her own life, but, really, Mordecai's faith was the source of her conviction. Without Mordecai, Esther would've been just another Jewish chick who happened to be hot enough to appeal to a goy king. In Mordecai, we have the story of the Jew who dared to do what was right because it was the right thing to do; Mordecai was no trouble maker, no warrior, no prophet, no king. Mordecai was just your average faithful Jew who lived his life by Torah and faced the consequences with faith that HaShem was on his side and would take care of him and his people, no matter what.
The story isn't about a hot Jewish heroine; it's about a non-descript old Jewish man who, when confronted with Haman's ego probably thought, "Get on my knees for what? Am I going to irritate my old bones for you? Schmendrick goy, go eat your treif and leave an old man to read his Torah in peace." You can be a Mordecai. Faith isn't just for those blessed with a pretty face. And being Jewish isn't just about looking in a mirror; it's about looking out after one another in accordance with what HaShem says is right.
Tzedekah is an integral part of Purim. We usually save our big donations for Pesach, so this year, I'd like to encourage the Messianic community to keep their Purim tzedekah local. Do you know a Jewish family who deserves a nice holiday meal? Maybe a couple who could use a night off but can't find a good babysitter? Or a senior citizen who doesn't have anyone to talk Megillah with this weekend? Seek to bless those in your own community and in the Jewish community where you live. Reach out in faith, like Moredecai, and look after the welfare of your people Israel.
If you don't, someone else will, and you'll be the one who is missing out on the blessing.
Chag Purim Sameach! May HaShem be blessed, Yeshua glorified, and the entire nation of Israel lifted up in Spirit in this season of celebration. Baruch haShem!
Labels: Esther, Hadassah, Israel, Jewish, Judaism, Messianic Judaism, Mordecai, Purim, Yeshua
posted by Shoshana @ 8:43 PM
