America’s Date with Destiny – March 3

Happy Purim – March 4-5

Bible readers know the importance of Purim as told in the book of Esther. Set in ancient Persia, modern Iran, the One True God of Israel providentially allowed Hadassah (Esther) to be strategically placed in the king’s palace and find favor with him. Esther was Jewish.

People of the Book know the story. When the king dismissed his queen who refused his summon, the king chose Esther as his new queen. But there was trouble. The king had a prime minister who was an evil man. His name was Haman (boo). Haman (boo) hated Jews and plotted to kill them all.

As the story unfolds, Esther had a cousin named Mordecai (yea). Mordecai (yea) learned of the plot and told Esther that she had to go before the king and intercede for her people. Esther must have been struck with fear. You see, it was politically incorrect for Esther to appear before the king unless the king called for her. It was against Persian government protocol to speak without getting permission. But Esther wouldn’t just lose votes; she would lose her head. She sent word to Mordecai (yea) that whoever enters the king’s inner court without being called was subject to death. And the king had not called for Esther in 30 days.

Mordecai’s (yea) response to Esther was a powerful statement that has stirred the hearts and minds of people ever since they were written in the Book of Books.  He said, “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than any other Jew. 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 if you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14)

WOW! What a challenge and what insight. Mordecai (yea) knew that when Haman (boo) discovered that Esther was a Jew he would have her murdered along with all the other Jews in Iran, oops, I mean Persia. Mordecai (yea) also knew that the God of Israel was sovereign and that, just perhaps, Esther was born and chosen for this one assignment to save the Jewish people. Mordecai (yea) also knew that if Esther failed in her assignment, God would use some other means to rescue the Jews.

Now there was more to Esther than just good looks and a year’s free admission to the palace spa and Mary Kay cosmetics. She had an inner strength and the courage to answer Mordecai (yea), “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shusan, and fast for me; neither eat or 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” (Esther 4:15-17).

As students of the Bible know, the king did receive Esther who revealed Haman’s (boo) plot to the king. The king honored Mordecai (yea) and Esther and commanded that Haman (boo) be hung on the tree that he had prepared for Mordecai (yea). Haman’s (boo) wife and friends saw this coming and said to Haman (boo), “If Mordecai (yea), before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him” (Esther 6:13).

As things turned out, the king gave the Jews the right to defend themselves (hello Israel) who defeated those who plotted to murder them. Then all the Jews of Persia celebrated for two days with feasting and joy, exchanging gifts and helping the poor (Esther 9:20-23). Furthermore, Mordecai (yea) invited all who would join them (non-Jews who loved Jews) to celebrate with them (Esther 9:26-28). Christians – go get your groggers – it’s time to party.

America’s Date with Destiny

Now what does Purim have to do with America’s date with destiny? The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu is scheduled to speak to the congress on March 3, the day before Purim. As we all know the man in the White House is upset because he was not informed about this ahead of time. In other words, the speaker of the House did not follow proper protocol.

Bibi is coming to warn the world about Iran getting nuclear weapons. Of course, Iran and its fanatical leaders is the Haman’s (boo) of our time. They have clearly stated their intentions to wipe Israel off the face of the map with just one nuclear bomb.

Can it be that Bibi is in the role of Esther who is coming to intercede to the King President and Congress of behalf of his people, Israel? Can it be that March 3 is America’s date with destiny determined by how America responds to Bibi’s message?

I am certain that the congress will give Bibi numerous standing ovations. But what about the man in the White House?  Will he continue to harden his heart against the God of Israel, the land of Israel and the people of Israel? Will he hasten the judgment of God on America for siding with the wicked Haman’s (boo) of Iran, the Muslim Brotherhood, etc.?

The word of God is true and certain, “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehosaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land” (Joel 3:1-2).

Christians, Israel and Purim

And what about Christians? What and how should Christians respond?  Is it likely that the sovereign God of the universe has allowed us to be alive “for such a time as this” when Israel has been born again in one day, May 14, 1948 as prophesied by Isaiah (Isaiah 66:7-10)? There are three steps.

1. Fast and pray – Christians should be like Mordecai (yea) and Esther. We should fast and pray that our leaders will stand with Israel against the wicked Haman’s of our world who want to destroy Israel and the Jewish people wherever they live. (2 Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 58:6)
2. Intercede for the Jewish people and for Israel – As Esther and Mordecai (yea) interceded for their own brethren, so Christians should intercede for Israel and the Jewish people living in the nations that God would protect them from their enemies and that they would seek Him with their whole hearts. (Psalm 122:6; Isaiah 62:6-7)
3. Get Involved – The Jews in Persia did more than just fast and pray. They defended themselves. Likewise, Christians can defend Israel and fight against anti-Semitism by writing letters to the newspapers, contacting our representative in Washington, helping Jews make aliyah, going to Israel, educating friends, co-workers, Bible teachers and pastors about God’s everlasting love and covenant with Israel and the Jewish people. (Isaiah 40:1)

If Christians do not take these steps, God will bring deliverance to Israel and the Jews from some other source. But we must not be deceived. If we do not get involved, we will not go unnoticed by the wicked Haman’s (boo) of this world, wherever you find them, who will persecute Christians along with the Jewish people. God is a faithful covenant-keeping God. He will fulfill His promises to Israel and the Jewish people but the Haman’s of this world will not prevail against them. Israel will fulfill her destiny to be the head of and light to the nations.