GOD SURPRISINGLY PLACES ESTHER AND MORDECAI IN POSITIONS TO BE HEROIC
The Book of Esther reveals how two unlikely people saved the Jewish Nation from a holocaust inside the Persian Empire. One was a gatekeeper at the palace and the other his orphaned niece. Esther the orphan replaces Vashti as queen of the Persian Empire. It is a remarkable story of rags to riches. It is clear that God appointed these two individuals to be in positions to save Jehovah's people. She became queen because of a dispute regarding the former queen. Mordecai was in a position to prevent an assassination.
Esther 4:13-14 NKJV 13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 "For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Esther's story chronicles how she and her Uncle Mordecai worked together to save the Jews. Further, God's people prospered because of this timely intervention. One can speculate that this is a book of encouragement for God's people and therefore God may bring about individuals to prosper Israel again in a time such as ours. Esther's name probably came from Persian word 'star'. She was a young woman of both beauty and wisdom. God chooses leaders, especially in crucial times, to run governments. This would include key advisers and prime ministers. Daniel was chosen to be the prime minister of Babylon for Godly reasons. Remember that no matter how dark the times appear, God is still in control, and in the end, or long run , goodness will triumph.
Daniel 4:17 NKJV 17 'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That, the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.'
God is clearly in charge and yet in this age of Satanic influence, He often allows the lowest of men to rule. Further, God clearly uses people such as Nehemiah and Esther to influence emperors for the benefit of Israel. Are we entering a crucial period of world history? If so, then God needs to place those He chooses to influence worldly events, in key positions. Are we seeing such a partnership working in our times?
Romans 13:1-3 NKJV 1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
THE WISDOM OF ESTHER AND MORDECAI
Mordecai was smart enough to appreciate the fact that Esther who won the beauty contest should not reveal her ethnic identity. She was wise enough to take good advice. The two were able to blindside the evil, anti-Semitic, Haman. He had no idea that Esther was Jewish. The Jewish people did not worship men or idols at all, and this made them different. Haman used this to push extreme hatred.
Esther 3:8 NKJV 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain.
One can see the parallels between ancient hatred and modern Anti-antisemitism and anti-Americanism. The Anglo Saxons (sons of Isaac) are the descendants of the the lost ten tribes of Israel. Jewish people have excelled more in America and in the past, Britain, than any other nation. A clear unseen kinship does exists. Mordecai was wise enough to block an attempted assassination the Emperor, and did not complain when he received no reward.
Esther 6:1-3 NKJV 1 That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 Then the king said, "What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" And the king's servants who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."
The king was reading some boring records to help him sleep and he discovered the unrewarded patriotism of Mordecai. No doubt God set the timing of events to allow this to happen but still shows proof of the political insights of Mordecai. The next day Esther shows tact, insight and patience in her two days of special dinners for the King. She was gaining favor before making her plea for God's people.
Esther 7:2-6 NKJV 2 And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!" 3 Then Queen Esther answered and said, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. 4 "For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated... for the king's loss." 5 So King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?" 6 And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!" So Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
She was patient and tactful before she sprang the trap on the evil Haman. She was wise spiritually as well. Esther called for three days of fasting and obviously prayer to God for salvation. God heard the prayers.
Esther 4:15-17 NKJV 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!" 17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.
GOD LOVES TO RESCUE HIS PEOPLE WHEN THEY TURN TO HIM
One can easily see many examples of God intervening for His people in the Bible especially when key people pray and repent. One verse has been promoted in America a lot in the last three years in Chronicles.
2 Chronicles 7:13-15 NKJV 13 "When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
Obviously God is especially interested in Jerusalem. It is the focus of many of the top religions of the planet. While America is not the religious center of the world, it is the most Biblical nation on the planet. Americans gives the world the most charity, far and away. America was the key to defeating the evil Fascists and undermining the godless Communist Empire. It is beyond doubt that evil would have dominated the planet if not for American power in the previous century. America in 1948, thanks to president Harry Truman, allowed the nation of Israel (Judah) to gain full independence and recognition. In the Yom Kippur War, President Nixon saved Israel at a crucial low point, by resupplying them with weapons. Those weapons proved to be far better than Russian equipment supplied to their enemies.
ARE NATANYAHU AND TRUMP UNLIKELY HEROES AND PATRIOTS ?
Benjamin Netanyahu has a deep relationship with America. This first native born Israeli leader was educated in America. He attended both high school and college in America including graduate school. He has been the longest serving Israeli Prime Minister. Mordecai became Prime Minister of the Persian Empire and that fact became a great blessing for the scattered nation of the southern kingdom of Israel.
Esther 10:2-3 NKJV 2 Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.
President Donald Trump who was considered not electable, helped solidify Israel's legal claim to the Golan Heights, a very necessary vital strategic location, and moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem. It is said that Israel (Judah) has never had a better friend that President Trump. I wonder if the Trump-Netanyahu partnership might bring, or prepare the way for one more really big event. If the good Trump Peace Plan is rejected by the PLO, or some other negative event happens, might they do the unthinkable?
Matthew 24:14-15 NKJV 14 "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),
The third Temple must be desecrated before the second coming of Jesus. Then the Temple has to be rebuilt, and it seems likely that it must be in place for at least a few years before the end time events surprise us. Both leaders are pushing high levels of patriotism and nationalism in concert. Will such a strong alliance ever again exist between Israel and America? Note II Thess. 2:3-4 for Temple importance.
The end is really coming so be open minded regarding who God has put in places of influence. Placement is not accidental. We never know what will happen to delay this desecration date or who God will use. But clearly Israel will feel confident enough or safe enough to build the third Temple someday soon.
