Esther 1-5
Posted:  Sept 30, 2014


A few facts:

Esther is made queen about 60 years after the Jews are told they can return home.   Had her parents and grandparents went home, along with Mordecai and the other Jews who remained in Persia, none of this would be possible.    The story of God delivering the Jews through Esther is wonderful and reassuring.  It tells us that God loves and protects us in times of calamity.   And we know that God protects us even when we have made mistakes, like the Jews have.   Once again, they shouldn't even be in Persia.  They were told they could go home, and they should have.

Back at the beginning of the Bible (Genesis 25) there is an account of two boys being born.  Twins, but not identical twins.   Even before they were born they were fighting!  There mother, Rebekah was the wife of Isaac.  Abraham was Isaac's dad, her father in law.  When she asked God why her pregnancy was so difficult, she was told that "two nations were fighting inside her".   When the boys were born Esau was first, and was strong and ruddy, almost red in appearance.   Jacob, born second was rather spindly, and more pale.    As the boys grew, they continued their constant picking on each other.   One day Jacob bribed and talked his older brother out of his birthright.  (Which he legally couldn't really do).   When Isaac was dying, he called for Esau to give him a blessing, but Jacob snuck in instead and received it, posing as Esau.   As an excuse for his outrageous behavior, he called to memory the day when Esau gave him his birthrights.   Of course, Jacob then fled immediately.   Esau goes on to raise a family and have children.   One of his children is Amalek.   When Amalek comes of age, he becomes very powerful and eventually has a whole kingdom under his command.   The Bible doesn't say too much about what Amalek told his people concerning the family, and especially the "Jacob" side of the family...but we know that many years later when Jacob's family is finally coming out of Egypt (in the Exodus)  The Amalekites attack them without cause or provocation.   Probably remembering the injustice done to his great, great, great grandfather many years before.  (Jacob and Esau made peace with each other, but that doesn't mean that their families didn't pick up and carry the offense).

Anyway, the attack on the Hebrews who were fleeing Egypt was so vicious and unprovoked that God gives Moses and his clan victory over them....as long as Moses' hands are upheld.  The battle lasts so long that two men have to come and hold Moses' hands up so the Hebrews can keep winning the battle against Amalek.

The Amalekites are defeated, and retreat back into the mountains to nurse their wounded pride and rebuild an army.    Eventually the Hebrews are allowed to enter the promised land, and they do so by way of Jericho, north of the country of the Amalekites.   Tension remains, as they Amalekites retain their land (Edom) while during the time of the Judges.  Finally, when Saul is made king the Lord appears to Samuel the prophet and says "Tell Saul to attack and completely destroy the Amalekites because of how they attacked my people when they were leaving Egypt".     The king of the Amalekites was a man named Agag.    Agag and his army are defeated by Saul, who then puts the entire country to death, men, women and children.....except for a few choice cattle and king Agag.   We presume that since Saul spared Agag, he also must have spared a few of his relatives...and some of them must have escaped.   So, Saul doesn't do as he is told.    Samuel comes along a day later and confronts Saul, points out his sin, and then takes matters into his own hands and kills Agag.    But, it's too late.   Saul has made God angry with his disobedience, and some relatives of Agag have escaped.

That's where Haman comes from.    King Agag is his ancestor, and the blood feud between his family and the Jews....represented by Mordecai, is still burning hot within him.    Not only that, but Mordecai and Esther are both descendants of the tribe of Benjamin....the same tribe Saul came from.

This morning as I read I am thinking that the Jews (who shouldn't be there) are being persecuted by an Amalekite (who shouldn't be there).     You see what happens when we don't obey God's commands?     Someone could point out that God comes to deliver the people, and we learn more about God's great love for us through this event.   That's true...but wouldn't it be better if we didn't have go there in the first place?

Making every effort to stay obedient,


PR