Esther 8:15-9:19
Wrestling with Esther. I struggle with a few things in Esther 8:15-9:19. This was undoubtedly a time for happiness and joy for the Jews. After all, their "death sentence" was basically overturned, so joy and celebration are definitely in order. The actions that follow, however, are hard for me to grasp. If I'm reading this correctly, between 75,000-76,000 people were killed by the Jews and Esther is the primary person getting permission for this to happen. It just kind of blows my mind.
So I wrestled with this for a while and here's where I landed. There are going to be things in the Bible that I don't fully comprehend. So when that happens, I should do my best to make sense of it (That could mean going to a Commentary and/or looking at other Scriptures, and most definitely that I ask God to give me understanding.). I may not figure it all out on my first attempt, or even the second or third time I read it. But here's the thing--the more I'm in the Word, the more opportunity I have to comprehend what God has for me in my Bible reading.
Well, I have to tell you that as I worked on today's passage I did make some progress in my comprehension. Even so, I still have some questions and that's alright because I'm confident that God will show me more next time. So what about you? How did you work through Esther 8:15-9:19? Any insights you want to share? Tami W.
Tami; I too have struggled with this and other readings that include the killing of (or attempt to) certain tribes that God wanted destroyed ie.women children. Well to this day we have people who still dont worship him and even those that say they do but are really not; and still have those in existence that want to destroy the Jewish population. What is Gods plan for these situations while these people are on this earth? Will he allow one like Ester to do the same? (sorry if that sounds deranged to some degree); but the more I try to rationlize or try to figure out what God is doing I get more frustrated and I must realize that my earthly brain will never come close. It is strange that pieces of Gods blueprint ie. our compassion, killing is wrong, springs forth to question our Creator.
The only thing I can think of that usually helps me when reading the old testament, is the fact that the new law of forgiveness hadn't taken effect yet. Back then it was an eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, they didn't have the same concept of forgiveness that Jesus Christ gave us.
Tami, your words above say it all!!
While we do not like to hear about killing others, we have to realize that the Jewish people would have been killed if they did not act. The Jewish people were God's people and if they were killed, it would be like destroying a part of Him. Even though we are not able to destroy any part of Him.. it would be symbolizing it.
Evil will not win and unfortunately people will have to die but it's because of evil.
We have to look at it that way.
I am adding to my comment... I just read this in the Elisabeth Elliot devotional that I get from Back to the Bile. Here is an explanation to why some bad things that happen have to happen.
"St. Augustine said, "The very pleasures of human life men acquire by difficulties." There are times when the entire arrangement of our existence is disrupted and we long then for just one ordinary day--seeing our ordinary life as greatly desirable, even wonderful, in the light of the terrible disruption that has taken place. Difficulty opens our eyes to pleasures we had taken for granted."
-Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Source: Keep A Quiet Heart
Scripture Reference: Philippians 4:12 2 Corinthians 4:15