Interestingly, we find ancient circumstances many times compared with today’s challenges. Look at the situation of Hadassah (Esther).
It was found necessary during her time of these events (around 486-422 B.C) that she was hidden away so that her cultural background was concealed. What we find is that this secrecy of hiding her tribe was not just contrived by her uncle Mordecai, instead behind it was a divine message to save many for the future.
Sometimes, we don’t know why things happen or the way they happen. We see things just happen not knowing that even the present has purposeful meaning for the future. That can mean we’re living in the present and we could be living in the planned future of events for our own good because the Almighty knows the end from the beginning. Quite interesting.
So, today may be today, but it could also be God seeing a future event years and years from now and He protects us from unforeseen events coming up. Wow!
Let’s sort an example during a period from about 472-422 B.C. We have here a great king, Xerxes (also called Ahasuerus). As is the case of those in high leadership, they can make decisions and carry them out because their position authorizes them to do so. In this case, the book of Esther opens up many vistas where we can learn many lessons that apply or can be applied right now.
Hadassah (Queen Esther) is orphaned. Her parents are dead. Esther is taken in by Mordecai, his uncle’s daughter (Esther 2:7). This comes off as a very sad story and in fact it was, but it is no sadder than some present-day circumstances.
Mordecai was a part of the royal household. He sat at the king’s gate. This was a great position of honor and allowed him to learn “inside information.” That’s how he learned about two servants who were plotting to do away with the king. By some hook or crook, the king learned about the plot and credited Haman, who became a high ranking official, to saving the king’s life.
After some time, Haman is promoted to Vizier (today’s meaning—a high executive officer of Muslim countries. Now, Haman was a Gentile – not of Jewish background. Mordecai, on the other hand, was of the Jewish tribe of Benjamin, as was Esther. Mordecai’s background was known. Esther’s was concealed.
Mordecai finished off the job of making every attempt to eradicate the Amalekites, which was originally the commission to Saul (first king of Israel); but he didn’t finish the commission, which was part of the cause that he lost his kingship due to his flirting with idolatry, soothsaying, witchcraft and philandering with the witch at Endor trying to get her to bring up Samuel from his grave even after he (Saul) had decreed this to be a great offense the God of Israel.
But as we see even today sometimes high-ranking officials think they can say and require of those under them but live a more promiscuous life in private. So, back to Haman. Haman had gotten a promotion to “Vizier.” King Xerxes had a grand 180-day display of all the riches of his kingdom and there was a seven-day feast. His queen at that time, Vashti, also held a feast for the women.
During this big, grand shindig, practically every man was getting drunk on wine (Esther 1:8) because Xerxes had said the men could drink liberally as much wine as they wanted. Xerxes was high and merry and ordered for his beautiful wife, Vashti, to be brought in and show off her voluptuous beauty. (to be continued). Perhaps the voluptuous dancing was a part of the display.
Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is the founder-superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, L.A. 90043, 323-293-9826, www.todaysfreshstart.org, (Ask Dr. Jeanette TM) “Inquiring Minds Want to Know.” All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © Any errors? Please let me know. [email protected]. Join Sundays for music and message at 11:30 a.m. by calling (712) 775-8971, code 266751. References: The Holy Bible. Don’t stop praying and hoping.