I have heard from others how if we as Christians serve a God of love, why would He have people destroyed like this example in the Book of Esther. They begin to rationalize that our God is cruel, otherwise, why would these things have happened.
What people sometimes fail to realize is that when we are in a society that deals with personal friendships, relationships, agreements, disagreements, and differences we have on life, surely we don't want to start "pulling out swords and threaten to kill one another". Even Christ Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, did not condone Peter's action by cutting off the guy's ear when they came to arrest Jesus...rather, Christ healed him.
On the other hand, when a country or even a certain sect of society is pledged to killing off a another race of people or take over their entire land...that is a whole other matter. It has always been like that throughout history, whether in biblical arenas or secular. Israel, for example, going into the Promised Land, always first offered a more peaceful solution before an attack on an enemy, but was usually rejected.
War is a necessary option at times because of motives... a collective motive that is insistent to do what is their intent...to destroy. Is it God's way...I would say "no"...it is the nature of man himself. Why blame God for the injustice of man's belief?
I realize this is quite a controversial subject, and we as Christians have not always been right as to why we do things...example being the Crusades and the horror it brought...doing things in God's name...doesn't always mean it is God who is behind it all.
Here, in Esther, the plans are made quite clear, and as horrible as it might seem, it is not. Justice is not always a "bed of roses"...sometimes people just want to hurt and destroy you...and you are then forced to make a stand and defeat the entire motive behind it all.
There is something to be said about being in a "military frame of mind" vs. a "civilian frame of mind". When an entire society is threatened, certain action is often times required. As the saying goes, "War is not the first choice, but it may be the only choice."
I think I will leave it at that...at least for now.....
Gleanings from Esther 9: 1-15
" On March 7th, 473 B.C., the 2 decrees went into effect. The first decree was given through Haman, who wanted all people of the Jewish race destroyed throughout the Persian Empire. The 2nd decree was given through Mordecai, who provided a way for the Jewish people to defend themselves.
This was a day well-planned out by all those who took up the decree of Haman...all people of the Jewish race within the empire were to be destroyed this very day.
But, how this day turned out was quite the opposite of what they had expected. Instead, every Jewish person within each province had been given the right to defend themselves and attacked and overpowered the opposition they faced.
In fact, the utter fear of Mordecai "run through the land", and because of this fear, no one really wanted to stand against him. In fact, for many the mere mention of "Jewish" brought an immediate fear and respect. Nobles, officers, governors, and other members of Royalty all joined to help the Jewish people, simply because of the reputation of Mordecai.
Just the report alone on what had happened to Haman and the promotion of Mordecai brought fear among all who lived in the empire.
As a result, the day brought great victory to all Jews within the entire empire. Jewish people took up their swords, and struck down all their enemies without mercy. Anyone having animosity toward a fellow Jewish countryman was cut down by the sharp edge of the sword.
In the capital city of Susa alone, 500 men were killed. The Jewish people echoed this throughout the empire in places like Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridal, and Vaizntha.
The Jewish people withstood any offense their attackers tried to come at them with, and all 10 sons of Haman were killed this day as well.
Yet, just like Abraham in the day of victory over the king of Sodom, the Jewish people here in the Persian empire refused to take any plunder or spoils from their enemies.
The report came in that day to king Xerxes himself on the 500 slain in Susa alone. The king then addressed Queen Esther and said:" Your people have destroyed 500 in the city alone, along with the 10 sons of Haman, not counting lives outside this area. So, what do you plan to do next, my Queen..for whatever your wish is, let me know, and I will complete this mission you have started."( Note: More than likely king Xerxes was not entirely disturbed with the number of people the Jews had killed, in fact, it was surprising to him how many had taken up the side of the Jewish people and the political stability it would have on the empire itself.)
Queen Esther then responded to the king's request:" If it would please you my king, give my people one more day to seek out any enemies that remain to my people, and may they be allowed to do tomorrow as they have done today...for then there will be no hatred left in them...no plans to to avenge this terrible edict Haman had authorized.
Along with this, my king, allow the 10 sons of Haman to be impaled on poles, just as their father was, and be a clear sign to all this must never happen again."
King Xerxes heartily agreed, and this additional decree was immediately announced in Susa: "the 10 sons of Haman are to be impaled like their father, and there will be one more day allowed to the Jewish community to stand up for their cause." The following day, March 8th, 300 more men who had adhered to the edict of Haman were destroyed, and once again, the Jewish people took no plunder or spoil."
What people sometimes fail to realize is that when we are in a society that deals with personal friendships, relationships, agreements, disagreements, and differences we have on life, surely we don't want to start "pulling out swords and threaten to kill one another". Even Christ Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, did not condone Peter's action by cutting off the guy's ear when they came to arrest Jesus...rather, Christ healed him.
On the other hand, when a country or even a certain sect of society is pledged to killing off a another race of people or take over their entire land...that is a whole other matter. It has always been like that throughout history, whether in biblical arenas or secular. Israel, for example, going into the Promised Land, always first offered a more peaceful solution before an attack on an enemy, but was usually rejected.
War is a necessary option at times because of motives... a collective motive that is insistent to do what is their intent...to destroy. Is it God's way...I would say "no"...it is the nature of man himself. Why blame God for the injustice of man's belief?
I realize this is quite a controversial subject, and we as Christians have not always been right as to why we do things...example being the Crusades and the horror it brought...doing things in God's name...doesn't always mean it is God who is behind it all.
Here, in Esther, the plans are made quite clear, and as horrible as it might seem, it is not. Justice is not always a "bed of roses"...sometimes people just want to hurt and destroy you...and you are then forced to make a stand and defeat the entire motive behind it all.
There is something to be said about being in a "military frame of mind" vs. a "civilian frame of mind". When an entire society is threatened, certain action is often times required. As the saying goes, "War is not the first choice, but it may be the only choice."
I think I will leave it at that...at least for now.....
Gleanings from Esther 9: 1-15
" On March 7th, 473 B.C., the 2 decrees went into effect. The first decree was given through Haman, who wanted all people of the Jewish race destroyed throughout the Persian Empire. The 2nd decree was given through Mordecai, who provided a way for the Jewish people to defend themselves.
This was a day well-planned out by all those who took up the decree of Haman...all people of the Jewish race within the empire were to be destroyed this very day.
But, how this day turned out was quite the opposite of what they had expected. Instead, every Jewish person within each province had been given the right to defend themselves and attacked and overpowered the opposition they faced.
In fact, the utter fear of Mordecai "run through the land", and because of this fear, no one really wanted to stand against him. In fact, for many the mere mention of "Jewish" brought an immediate fear and respect. Nobles, officers, governors, and other members of Royalty all joined to help the Jewish people, simply because of the reputation of Mordecai.
Just the report alone on what had happened to Haman and the promotion of Mordecai brought fear among all who lived in the empire.
As a result, the day brought great victory to all Jews within the entire empire. Jewish people took up their swords, and struck down all their enemies without mercy. Anyone having animosity toward a fellow Jewish countryman was cut down by the sharp edge of the sword.
In the capital city of Susa alone, 500 men were killed. The Jewish people echoed this throughout the empire in places like Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, Parmashta, Arisai, Aridal, and Vaizntha.
The Jewish people withstood any offense their attackers tried to come at them with, and all 10 sons of Haman were killed this day as well.
Yet, just like Abraham in the day of victory over the king of Sodom, the Jewish people here in the Persian empire refused to take any plunder or spoils from their enemies.
The report came in that day to king Xerxes himself on the 500 slain in Susa alone. The king then addressed Queen Esther and said:" Your people have destroyed 500 in the city alone, along with the 10 sons of Haman, not counting lives outside this area. So, what do you plan to do next, my Queen..for whatever your wish is, let me know, and I will complete this mission you have started."( Note: More than likely king Xerxes was not entirely disturbed with the number of people the Jews had killed, in fact, it was surprising to him how many had taken up the side of the Jewish people and the political stability it would have on the empire itself.)
Queen Esther then responded to the king's request:" If it would please you my king, give my people one more day to seek out any enemies that remain to my people, and may they be allowed to do tomorrow as they have done today...for then there will be no hatred left in them...no plans to to avenge this terrible edict Haman had authorized.
Along with this, my king, allow the 10 sons of Haman to be impaled on poles, just as their father was, and be a clear sign to all this must never happen again."
King Xerxes heartily agreed, and this additional decree was immediately announced in Susa: "the 10 sons of Haman are to be impaled like their father, and there will be one more day allowed to the Jewish community to stand up for their cause." The following day, March 8th, 300 more men who had adhered to the edict of Haman were destroyed, and once again, the Jewish people took no plunder or spoil."
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