Purim, a holiday with its roots in the Bible, can provide loads of fun for adults as well as for children. Purim can provide fun-filled family activities which reinforce Biblical truth. The Purim holiday is celebrated with special food, gift-giving, music, games, costumes, and noise-making. It is also celebrated with the public reading of the book of Esther, which explains the cause of all the merriment. The book of Esther recounts the events that gave birth to the Purim holiday. Esther, a young Jewish girl living in Persia, is chosen to be the bride of King Ahasuerus, who is unaware of Esther’s Jewish background. One of the king’s highest officials is a wicked man named Haman, a notorious Jew-hater. Through his wiles and deceit, Haman tricks the King into authorizing a complete massacre of all the Jews living in the kingdom. Esther exposes the plot and reveals her Jewish identity to the king, and Haman is hanged on the gallows he had built for Mordecai, a prominent Jew who had refused to bow down before him.

The story is filled with excitement, drama, suspense, irony, and even some humor. Haman had cast lots to determine on which day the Jews should be massacred. The Hebrew word for “lot” is Pur, hence the name of the holiday. “Therefore they called these days Purim, after the name Pur” (Esther 9:26). After Haman’s plot failed, the decision was made to celebrate the deliverance every year with “feasting and rejoicing and sending portions of food to one another and gifts to the poor (9:22). So these days were to be remembered and celebrated throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city” the Bible says, “and these days of Purim were not to fail among the Jews, or their memory fade from their descendants” (9:28).

Our holy Rabbi, Maran Yeshua is Jewish, and He no doubt celebrated this holiday. Jewish people had been observing Purim every year for around 500 years before Maran Yeshua was born, and there is no reason to suppose that Maran Yeshua and His family did not observe it. So we do what Maran Yeshua would do. Enjoy it! Purim celebrates the deliverance of HaShem’s people from all of the Hamans, Herods, Hitlers, and Husseins of history. It is interesting that Sadam Hussein’s defeat in the Gulf War took place on Purim (the first war in Iraq). Also, Joseph Stalin, after setting into motion a plot to destroy the Jewish people, was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage on the day of Purim. Stalin’s plot died with him.

Even though HaShem is not once mentioned in the book of Esther, it is plain to see that HaShem was at work behind the scenes, arranging for the deliverance of His people from those who would destroy them. Purim affirms the fact that HaShem continually watches over His people.

The highlight of Purim, though, is during the public reading of the Book of Esther. This is no ordinary reading. The Bible instructs us to “blot out the name of Amalek” (Devarim 25:19). Haman was an Agagite, a descendant of Amalek. This will be the ultimate job of Melech HaMashiach when He returns; He will fight againsts the anti-semites who want to destroy Israel.  The world will acknowledge that the God of Israel is God, then HaShem will be King over all the earth!

Purim, Vashti & Israel

What does Queen Vashti have in common with the people of Israel? The story of Vashti in the book of Esther reflects HASHEM’s utter disappointment with the people of Israel for not returning to the land of Israel after the seventy year exile, to fulfill their divine purpose to become His ‘model’ nation. "Vashti was called to come to the King and show all the nations her beauty… but she did not come as the King commanded, and he became very angry."  Esther 1:9-12 Was not Vashti’s behavior similar to that of Israel?  Was not the King’s conclusion similar to HaShem’s?  If the queen, who was supposed to be an example to the women in her kingdom, did not obey her husband, what could be expected from the others? And if Israel, who was destined to be a "Light to the nations", will not respond to the Divine Call, what could HaShem expect from other nations?

Do you want Mashiach Now? Do you want an end to this long exile? Would you have Emuna (Faith) in Him (HaShem)? 

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