“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place. but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”.

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Today is the first day of the joyous festival of Purim from the book of Esther. Esther may not be a frequent turn-to in your devotionals or one you hear taught very often at your local church, but it contains hidden and precious gems that continue to resonate today. In the Book of Esther we are reminded of a powerful biblical story, one filled with danger, divine intervention, and ultimately, deliverance and salvation. The events of the Book of Esther are more than ancient history; interestingly they are a prophetic blueprint for the times we live in today and the events unfolding before our very eyes.

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The Threat in Persia (modern day Iran)

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The festival of Purim recounts how Haman, a high-ranking official in the Persian Empire, plotted to annihilate the Jewish people. He manipulated King Ahasuerus into signing a decree that would wipe out every Jewish man, woman, and child in the empire, essentially a genocide of Jews. The plan seemed to be unfolding just as Haman has foreseen, but God had already positioned an unlikely hero to stand in the gap. And not any kind of hero, a heroine, a young Jewish woman named Hadassah , or as known by her Persian name, Esther.

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Fast forward to today, and we see eerie parallels. The modern nation of Iran, the very land where Persia once stood, is led by an evil regime that openly calls for the destruction of Israel. Iran created, funded, trained and pulled the strings that led to Israel being surrounded by a “Ring of Fire” that was let loose with Hamas’ brutal attack on October 7th, 2023. Hamas in the southwest, the Houthis in the southeast, Hezbollah in the North, and other proxies from Iraq and Syria in the East. These ongoing threats that include nuclear ambitions, terror proxies, and relentless hostility are not just racial or geopolitical issues, they are ultimately a spiritual battle to destroy the nation that bears God’s name, just like with Haman 2,500 years ago.

The Invisible Hand of God

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One of the most striking aspects of the Book of Esther is that God’s name is never mentioned anywhere in the entire book. Over time, this has even led some theologians to questions its place in the bible and to handle differently than the rest of the bible. But although God’s name in not mentioned, His presence is everywhere. From Esther’s surprising rise to the throne to Mordecai’s refusal to bow to Haman, to the king’s sleepless night that led to Mordecai’s honor and the king’s acceptance of Esther’s requests. God was clearly orchestrating every detail behind the scenes.

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Isn’t this how He often works in our own lives? Even when He seems silent, He is moving, positioning, and preparing His people for what is to come, for such a time as this.

The Call to Be Like Esther

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Esther didn’t seek the spotlight. She was a young Jewish orphan in a foreign land, taken from obscurity into the palace of a pagan king to be positioned for a specific time and purpose. But when the crisis arose and her people faced annihilation, she still had a choice: to stay silent and remain safe herself, or risk everything to intercede and act on behalf of her people. Her famous words—"If I perish, I perish" (Esther 4:16)—are still a challenge to all of us today both regarding our boldness of faith, and the timeless call to stand up for the Israel’s physical deliverance from the hostile peoples and groups that seek its demise, and cry out for the spiritual salvation of the Jewish people.

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Although the intensity of the war in Israel has slightly decreased, it is not yet over. Hamas has still not been eradicated and the IDF is preparing for another strong offensive in Gaza if the negotiations do not proceed and lead the hostage releases. Hezbollah are seeking to regroup and rearm, and the Houthis have once again declared that all Israeli vessels travelling through Mideast waters will be targeted. The Iranian regime that backs them all is determined as ever to transfer funds, arms, know-how and all means possible to eventually fulfil their vision of a Middle East with no Israel in it.

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Thus the timeless call to standup for Israel is ever-real and ever-crucial. As we observe Purim, let’s do more than celebrate a past deliverance. I encourage you to step into your role as modern-day Esthers. May we not remain silent but pray, intercede, and stand boldly for Israel, knowing that God is still at work, even in the unseen, and that he will be faithful to deliver and save.

"Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." (Ps. 121:4).

Blessing you from Israel with a happy Purim!‍