Living in Israel, especially during the past year and a half, it feels that the Jewish people is reliving the history of this feast. God is not mentioned in the book of Ester, but His presence is there. In the same way, though the people of Israel still do not have the full revelation of who He is, His presence and protection is felt daily.
Ester had the potential to influence the King to save her people from destruction, and oppression. As messianic Jews we also have a key role to save our people: with our prayers and with the gospel of Yeshua, the Messiah.
When Ester understood the dire situation and her crucial role in it, she called for a three-day period of fasting and prayer, together with her friends. It brought about a significant shift. She was freed from her fear of facing the king. God also gave her strategy how to overcome Haman. In chapter 9:22 of the book of Ester we read of the turn of events and of how the Jewish people moved from lamentation to joy and from mourning to celebration.
The body of believers in the land, like Ester, understood the potential and authority hidden in in our situation, and called for a time of prayer and fasting, as a corporate body of congregations, and though not as dramatic as in the book of Ester, it has brought many changes; believers became more serious about praying and declaring God’s Word into this war situation. God did and continues to perform many told and untold miracles to save people from disaster and death. There is a felt shift in the openness of the people of Israel to the gospel message. God also gives us strategy and more courage to share how He is at work.
I believe that as a people, we will also see a shift to joy. We believe we will see our hostages released from their present oppression, into freedom. And one day – hopefully soon, our people will look upon the lamb of God slain for our sin, and have their eyes opened to recognize their Messiah.