Esther, Born for Such a Time as Thisনমুনা

Sometimes we do not understand why God allows things to happen; why He allowed the king to give permission to Haman to destroy the Jewish people. We do see that through prayer and fasting the tables are turned. Then the Jews were allowed to kill their enemies.

Even for us who live today it is difficult to reflect on past events like the genocide of the Jews in World War II. God did not stop it, neither did He change the circumstances. Although many Jews were warned to leave, to flee, or to go into hiding, so many were killed.

Today we read that the Jews killed all the sons of Haman. It seems so cruel to kill a whole family. Nevertheless, we read that Haman was a descendent of Agag, and Agag was a cruel king whom the Lord directed to be killed many years earlier by king Saul. Because of his pride Saul spared the life of Agag, but a little later the prophet Samuel killed him anyway. Agag had many descendants and Haman was one of them, so the Jews had to see to it that their hatred toward the Jewish people could not be passed on through the sons of Haman. His whole family was killed.

There has always been a lot of antisemitism. Not every enemy of the Jews will be killed immediately. But God remains faithful to His people, even to this very day; and the timing of His justice is perfect.

Prayer: Lord God, You teach me that revenge belongs to You, and I am not to seek to hurt or wish ill upon my enemies. Jesus has conquered the enemy; teach me to live in His peace and rest in trusting Him. Amen.