Purim, the Festival of Lots

By Joseph Gray, Canadian Director

Purim was always one of my favourite holidays as a boy growing up in a Jewish home. Everything about Purim seemed delightfully designed to please children. This, after all, was the only time of the year when we were actually encouraged by our parents to make noise in the synagogue!

During Purim we dressed up in costumes and put on Purim plays and Purim bazaars complete with games and food. The whole holiday took on a spirit of make believe and joyous fun. Hamantaschen, a special three-cornered Purim pastry, would add a sweet taste that was enjoyed by all. In the synagogue, Megillah Esther (the Book of Esther) was read while the audience loudly whirled their groggers (special Purim noise-makers) to drown out the name of Haman each time he was mentioned in the story. These holiday activities are still enjoyed in every synagogue today.

But, how does one make sense of a holiday where up is down and down is up? Even the name, Purim, is not a Hebrew name like the other Jewish festivals; it is a Persian word meaning lots. The holiday got its name from the lots that Haman drew to determine the day on which he would carry out his evil plan to destroy the Jewish people.

The story of Purim, recorded in the Book of Esther, is one of suspense and intrigue. It reads like a modern mystery novel, complete with surprising twists and turns and high drama.

The story recounts how God chose a young Jewish girl, raised her up to become queen of Persia and eventually used her to help save her people from destruction. The plan to destroy the Jewish people (one of many throughout history) was devised by the wicked prime minister of Persia (modern day Iran), Haman.

Haman’s hatred for the Jewish people was rooted in pride and jealousy, but there is a much deeper spiritual drama going on the story of Esther that is still going on today.

According to the Book of Esther, Haman was an Agagite, a descendent of Amalek. Amalek you may remember was the wicked king who came out against the children of Israel as they wandered in the desert. Amalek took no pity on Israel, destroying the weakest among them – those who fell behind. For this reason, God commanded the children of Israel to “blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven” (Deuteronomy 25:19). The first king of Israel, Saul, failed to fully obey this commandment from God. Seeking compromise, he allowed Agag (Haman’s ancestor), king of Amalek, to survive after God had delivered him into his hands.

The story of Esther is a story of invisible spiritual warfare and miraculous deliverance and victory. It is a battle that continues to this day. In our daily lives, each of us faces and confronts Hamans from within and without. Haman tells us to believe the lie that God cannot help us. God, he says, is far away, distant. Haman declares that God’s promises cannot be counted on today. The only thing that matters is human power, intellect and achievement.

This is why the story of Esther is so important. God turns our human reasoning upside down. Using an unknown, powerless Jewish girl, He acted to save the Jewish people from Haman’s evil plans for destruction.

It is even more interesting that, in the Book of Esther, the name of God is not mentioned even once. God seems to be invisible in this whole drama. But here we discover the main point of the story of Esther. At those moments when things seem darkest, when God seems to be invisible and distant, get ready for the surprise ending. Our God is a living God Who saves.

“In the fullness of time God sent His son to redeem those who were under the Law that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galations 4:4-5). Yeshua, whose very name means God saves, continues to surprise us with His saving love.

Have a happy and joyful Purim.

(This year, Purim begins on the evening of Thursday, March 20.)