Deliverance Part One – Esther 9 & 10 and today’s Printable
We have come to the final chapters in our story of Esther. So much has happened since the beginning when Vashti was ousted and a young girl named Hadassah was brought to the king’s harem. We know her as Esther and her impact was huge because of her willingness to step into the gap for deliverance of her people from the wicked Haman.
I have broken chapters 9 & 10 into two parts because there is nothing like a good ending. I also want to tell you a bit about Purim. So let’s begin with the 13th Day of Adar.
Deliverance of the Jews
The day of destruction arrives: The 13th day of Adar. The Jews have been preparing themselves for eleven months for the threat of Haman’s slaughter. Mordecai’s second decree gave them permission to defend themselves on this day. It also permitted them to plunder their enemies, which they didn’t do, by the way.
In Esther 9:1 it says the enemies hoped to take mastery over the Jews. Instead the opposite happens—the Jews gain mastery over their enemies. This was the mighty hand of God, though His name is still not mentioned.
I must tell you this makes me think of another twist of mastery—when Christ hung on the cross, Satan thought he’d won till the tomb was found empty. What appeared to be dread, turned out to be a victory and deliverance for every sinner.
The Dread of the Jews Fell on Them (verses 2-5)
What an ominous phrase—the dread of the Jews. Take a closer look at this in your printable today.
I can’t imagine what this must have felt like to those who lived it. Mayhem. Bedlam. Chaos. Haman’s orders to kill, destroy, and annihilate every Jew across the 127 provinces were clear and came with the seal of the king’s approval. The ones to carry it out were filled with determination.
But, the fuel of faith took the power away from their enemies and gave the Jews the upper hand.
The text says, the Jews struck their enemies with a sword. Not in offense, but in defense according to Mordecai’s decree. Normally those exiled in a foreign place have no rights for defense. But for this one day it is granted them by the power of the king’s seal.
This is when I shut my eyes so I can avoid seeing the bloodshed. #QueenEsther #Deliverance Click To Tweet
This is the part of the movie when I shut my eyes so I can avoid seeing the bloodshed. But when the bad guy gets his due, sometimes I peek a few times.
Deliverance from Our Enemy
We have an enemy, Satan, who seeks to kill, destroy and annihilate the world. Click To Tweet
We have an enemy, Satan, who seeks to kill, destroy and annihilate the world. But God sent His Son Jesus to wage war in the heavenly realms, and gain victory over his schemes. The blood that was shed on the cross gained mastery over our enemy once and for all. This deliverance is for you too…have you accepted Jesus as your deliverer?
Join me next time when we finish chapters 9 & 10.
Jeanne
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