Esther 3:

11. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given unto thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good unto thee

12. Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring

13. And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month Adar, and to take spoil of them for a prey

14. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people they should be ready against that day

15. The post went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

The Purim in the Making

The world is an entity submerged in mysteries. God has revealed some of these to His own in the scriptures, but very minute. Most time, these revelations come in the form of negatives: don’t, it’s dangerous… Most time, the recipients don’t always know the full details behind such commands. This is because God is very careful that we are not distracted from the main reason for giving the scriptures: redemption, the kingdom of God in man where His righteousness reigns.

In our world, spirits of stature are behind what man calls civilisation which is the accepted way of thinking and living and which not only enhances our love of the revealed teachings but is always defined as the reason for being. Even today, the whole world, the christians who claim special and different revelations (from God) not exempted, have pursued one civilisation as the purpose of being: be impactful, be relevant, be famous, be an achiever – one that should leave a name behind – be reckoned.

Here is Haman. He has a backing of some force that drew him up as the next to king Ahasuerus in importance. The present civilisation of Persia and Media reigned supreme and Haman had his fingers on it.

Our story is entering into an exciting suspense here, in the 12th year of Ahasuerus ((474 BC). The spirit is in full manifestation through Haman who loves worship. Of course, the behind the scene forces receive the real worship; Haman is just a human conduit.

In the twelfth year of Ahasuerus, in the first month, Haman has begun to consult with the behind the scene forces he knows. Every day, every month, till the twelfth month, consultation is made for him to determine the auspicious time for his genocidal move against the Jews represented in Mordecai. The spirits, long-lived, carried on a business from generation to generation and were now well equipped in a man called Haman, an Agagite, an Amalekite; the return match of the ancient time of Saul’s Israel against the Amalekite of that generation was here. I’ll do well to pause here. Suppose Saul had done a thorough job of the Samuel’s instruction, there wouldn’t have been a Haman in Persia and Media kingdom to threaten the existence of the people of Israel now. Lord, whatever the clinging thing in me in your presence which You want me to finish off but I haven’t – may I realise this and receive grace to deal effectually with it; “every weight and sin that doth easily beset” me!

At the twelfth month of consultation, the coast is clear. This divination to know a day to do a thing is mainly casting lot. The process of casting lot and was called Purim, it’s verb, to cast lot, pur.

In the twelfth month, Haman has known the right and appropriate day. He moves the suggestion to the king that there’s need to destroy “certain people” in the kingdom because “their laws are diverse from all people; neither do they keep the king’s laws.” It’s a most logical move and argument. Israel was called to be different from all nations, all people. Their philosophy of life by which they lived was strange from that of all people. Life was defined from the view of God Whom they served. For this they easily attracted antagonism and persecution. Now, this wasn’t deliberate; no one would willingly want to run against the general flow. But they had allegiance to their God Who seemed to set them up as a “theatre before the world, angels and man.” Lord, this is the first principle of LIFE that I learnt from You in my life: he that has invited Jesus into his life has also invited a burdensome load of troubles even without deliberately courting them.

In the twelfth month of the twelfth year of Ahasuerus, the plot is good to go. On the thirteenth day of the first month of the thirteenth year of the king, the decree for destruction of a people is scheduled to be on the thirteenth day of the end of the thirteenth year. Except for God Who can always find a way to be just and yet be the justifier of the sinner, this plot can never be unscrambled by mortals and spirits. There’s no escape!

The bible speaks of someone’s righteousness imputed on me. I’m every wit righteous, as righteous as God. I’m glad to know that God has my flanks well covered. My battle is His battle. Just when I think it’s all over, He whispers: “My strength is made perfect in your weakness. Cheer up, I’ve overcome the world.” I’m learning to know that each confrontation, each frontier of battle is a raw material in His hand to arrive His own end through His own means.

Thank You Lord