Esther 9:23-28 provides a quick recap of the events that led up to the establishment of a holiday called Purim. This might sound like a strange name, but it was named after the pur (probably something like modern dice), which had been used by Haman (the enemy of the Jewish people) to “randomly” select a date for others to kill members of that nation in the ancient Persian empire. Haman’s plan was foiled, but I encourage you to read the summary for yourself.
So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them. For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur (that is, the lot) for their ruin and destruction. But when the plot came to the king’s attention, he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back onto his own head, and that he and his sons should be impaled on poles. (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.
Esther 9:23-28 NIV
It might seem a little weird to name a holiday after the lot that was cast for choosing a date for the destruction of an entire people. However, we might say the same thing about Christians wearing shirts or jewelry with a cross on it, which was a horrible torture and execution device. Without context, either symbol might seem a little macabre or counter-intuitive.
However, although the pur was originally used to select a date for the Jews’ execution, that day ended up with not only the Jewish nation remaining intact, but also the elimination of a significant number of their enemies. What was originally a tool to prescribe the date of their destruction ended up selecting the date of their victory!
In the same way, when the innocent Christ allowed Himself to be crucified for us, things looked pretty bleak. It was a travesty – an enormity – that an innocent, divine person was being executed by corrupt leaders, a weak ruler, and a mob’s pressure. In the end, though, not only was Jesus raised from the dead, but the result was salvation for the world. Not only were Jesus and His disciples “still standing” afterwards, their ultimate enemies of sin and death were also conquered.
Christians do not celebrate that an innocent man was crucified. We aren’t joyful that corrupt religious leaders falsely accused Jesus before Pilate. It’s never a good thing when an innocent human being is killed. In fact, death is a terrible reminder of the consequences of sin – including the sin of each Christian, despite our sins being forgiven – and the best that it can offer us is an ugly reminder that we need a Savior.
The good thing that Jesus did on the cross (by choice) doesn’t cancel out the fact that it was a terrible thing brought upon Him by others’ sins. Instead, the reason to celebrate Jesus’ crucifixion is what God did with it. The benefit about Jesus’ crucifixion is the salvation that it brought.
As you might already know, Purim – or the “Feast of Lots” – is still celebrated by Jewish people today. The imminent destruction of their people is the context of the celebration, but the reason for rejoicing is the victory that God brought them, despite that danger.
So, how about you? Do you celebrate great things that God has done, even when they have come through bad things that happened to you (or to others)? God has a way of bringing triumph out of tragedy, but that does not mean that the bad things that happen in this world are good. We can appreciate the good that God brought out of something terrible, without calling the bad thing good.
Let’s remember that we live in a fallen, broken world, where sin has led to a curse. However, a good God is still ready and waiting for us to return to Him (when we can give Him the glory for turning a mess into a masterpiece), no matter what we’ve said, what we’ve done, or what we’ve lived through. The curse of this world’s brokenness is the collective fault of sinful humanity (although there’s not always a one-to-one mapping between an individuals sins and their trials, of course). However, good in this world is thanks to God (see James 1:16-18), and He deserves the praise for that.
May we be grateful and not bitter.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for July 28, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, July 28, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The Bible and Archaeology, by J.A. Thompson, © 1962, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., p.166-171.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Esther & Daniel, by Mark Mangano. © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 