The thirteenth day of the
month of Adar had arrived, and Jews scattered throughout the Persian
empire knew there was a command sent out by King Ahasuerus that they
should all be destroyed. For those who killed them, the Jewish wares
would be theirs. By God's grace a subsequent law sent out by the king
allowed for the Jews to defend themselves from anyone who attacked
them, and in chapter nine and verse two we see the Jews preparing for
their assailants. We read:
The Jews gathered
themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of
the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no
man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.
The
verse begins, “The Jews gathered themselves together in their
cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus,...” When
we use our mind's eye, we can almost visualize this great gathering
of the Jews. They knew the news, and they were anticipating the date
when their demise was planned. Although they had the second law that
allowed them to defend themselves, they still must have been anxious.
It would be as if we knew on a certain day there was someone who was
going to break into our houses, kill our families, and loot our
belongings. Though we might have the ability to defend against them,
there would be those anxious moments. Nonetheless, the Jews prepared
themselves by gathering together throughout “all the provinces
of King Ahasuerus”.
The
verse goes on to say, “to lay hand on such as sought their hurt:
and no man could withstand them;” Although the second command
to defend themselves was sent out, there were still those within the
Persian empire who sought to carry out the first law to destroy the
Jews. When they would attempt to hurt the Jews, none were successful.
No one could come against the Jewish people and make advancement
against them.
Finally
the verse says, “for the fear of them fell upon all people.” A
massive wave of fear of the Jews poured over the people within the
kingdom of Persia. Although they were given the command to destroy
the Jews, the non-Jews within the Persian empire were struck with
fear and were afraid of what would happen if they were to attack
them. Just because a governmental law was in place to destroy the
Jews, it didn't mean that the law of emotions would prevent the law
from being fulfilled.
Can we
again see the mighty hand of God at work in the Jewish people's
lives? This fear spread throughout the Persian empire, and like the
many references within the Bible that tell us that “God caused a
great fear to come upon them” we see God at work again. The
Almighty was protecting His people. God knew the messiah would come
through the Jews. He ordained it. He planned it, and He spoke about
it through the prophets of old. These who sought to destroy the Jews
were only fooling themselves if they thought they could come against
God's chosen people. God would save them, and God would preserve them
because not only they but we needed a Savior. Jesus Christ had to
come for us to be in a relationship with God. God did save them, and
God sent the fear upon all who would come against them. God sent
Jesus Christ through the Jews that He preserved. Glory be to God in
the Highest!
Next
time we shall see the Jews' neighbors helping them, so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” and the new marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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