NEVER MESS UP WITH THE JEWS

WHO ARE THE JEWS?

The name “Jew,” derived from the name “Judah,” is the name that developed for God’s people during the exile. It applied to anyone of the Hebrew race who was located anywhere in the world (Zech. 8:23) “Thus says the Lord of hosts:  ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nation shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’” In the Gospel of John it refers primarily to those who opposed and persecuted Jesus (John 5:16) “For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.”  In the Book of Acts and the letters of Paul it refers primarily to the descendants of Abraham as distinct from the Gentiles or Greeks, though Paul did distinguish between an outward Jew and an inward Jew. He believed that the Jews had a priority in hearing the Good News of salvation; he became burdened when so many rejected Jesus, but believed that the faith of the Gentiles would eventually provoke the Jews to jealousy (Acts 10:34-35) “Then Peter opened his mouth and said; “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.” God seems to have a special place in His plan for the Jews, though opinions vary widely as to what that might be. Some say only the Jews must continue to accept Jesus as the Messiah; others see a mass influx of Jews into the church towards the end of history; still others interpret the Millennium as the time when Jesus will rule a Jewish kingdom from Jerusalem, and the time when many prophecies of the Old Testament will be fulfilled (Rev. 20:2) “He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.”

JEW IS A NAME GIVEN TO GOD’S PEOPLE IN BABYLON

The people of Mordecai who were living during king Ahasuerus were identified as the Jews (Esther 3:4-6) “Now it happened when they spoke to him daily and he would not listened to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the kingdom of Ahasuerus- the people of Mordecai.”  

HAMAN THE SON OF HAMMEDATHA THE AGAGITE

Haman the son of Hammedatha had gone too far when king Ahasuerus promoted him, advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him (Esther 3:1-3) “After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advances him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. And all the kings’ servants who were within the kings’ gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.”  The Jews as notorious are they were, were known for not regarding the decree from any government in spite of being aliens in other countries and away from their own home land. But to Haman he could not understand this aspect and accept it as it is; instead he meddled with the Jews and plotted their destruction which in the long run, he was the one who was destroyed while the Jews reigned in his place. There is a saying which goes, “If you can’t fight them, then join them.”  To Haman this was a tongue twister.  He did not as well remember that he, who digs a pit for others, will by all means fall in the pit which he has dug himself. They even casted lot to know the month which the Jews will be destroyed and Haman went as far as paying ten thousand silver to those who will do the destruction (3:7) “In the first month which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.” The Jews were indeed a threat to Haman that he could not rest until he knew the month that this Jews were to be destroyed, killed and annihilated completely. As all things were set for Haman, he now went to seek permission and ago ahead from the king. See (V. 8-9) “Then Haman said to king Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people, and they did not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a degree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.”  Brethren, we have to get understanding here; this is what happened with wicked men who surround themselves near the king, president or any leader. They are feed with bad reports concerning people, a nation or a given task. And because the one in authority has no time to investigate but trust his or her leaders, the righteous are eliminated while the wicked remains. You see, they even go as far as bribing so the king may not have any choice nor alternative but to give in (V. 10-12) “So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to Haman “What?” “The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you.” This is “kwisha manenos” But the king had no idea that even his own wife Queen Esther was sold to Haman the enemy of the Jews. As leaders let’s not just take any advice into consideration before a thorough investigations; one might be destroying their own house without their knowledge as in this case here.

GOD’S WAY ARE NOT MAN’S WAY

God’s ways are unsearchable and there is no day that man will ever understand them. God knows our end from our beginning; He knows and understands the ways, and thought of men. He works things past human understanding! As the lot was cast in the first month, God did allow it to fall in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar i.e. the month of December such that He may work His own ways past human understanding. The decision was made and a decree had gone forth to destroy, to kill and annihilate all the Jews (V. 13-14) “And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions. A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. The courier went out, hastened by the king’s command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the King and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.  But wait a minute, “Who is God?”  And who can content with Him and win? (6:1) “That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the Chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written that Mordecai has told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus. Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed for Mordecai for this?” My beloved brethren, never cease doing good even to those who do not deserve it.  It is my humble prayer to God the Almighty that He may command a book of the Chronicles of the records of our doings to be read today, and that which the enemy had plotted against us return to their own heads in the Mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Never cease doing good beloved, I repeat! Did we know that the good that Mordecai did served him and promoted him to the throne? And not only was his life alone spared but the entire Jewish people. And make our enemies Oh Lord, to decide what good should be done to us thinking that they are the one’s (V. 6-10) “So Haman came in and the king asked him, “What should be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?”  And Haman thought in his heart, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” And Haman answered the king, “ For the man whom the king delight to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then this robe and horse be delivered to the one of the king’s most noble princes that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!’”  Then the king said to Haman, ‘Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.” I  am coke sure that could it be that Haman had power, he would have reversed what he had said concerning the one whom the king delighted to honor. Because he had suggested only the good things thinking in his mind it was him, and little did he know, it was his enemy Mordecai. (V. 11) “So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on the horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delight’s to honor!” What a humiliation!

HAMAN’S FALL AND DESTRUCTION

May our enemies be frustrated and humiliated as Haman (V. 12-13) “Afterward Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning with his head covered. When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him.” I think the time Haman was making the decision of destroying, killing, annihilating and plundering the Jewish, he never consulted his wife neither his wise men as they would have advised him otherwise. (V. 7:1-2) “So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther. And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be done!"  May the Lord grant us wisdom as He  granted Queen Esther while uncovering our enemies (V. 3) “Then Queen Esther answered and said, “If I have find favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king’s loss.” Can we imagine the king had forgotten, he once adhered to Haman’s suggestion and gave him money and people to carry on what he wanted with them? (V, 5-6) “So king Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing?” And Esther said, “The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!” So Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.” Evil is now determined against Haman. Friendship is no more but wrath and mistrust (V. 7-) “Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine, and went into the garden palace; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king. When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?” As the word left the kings mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king’s behalf, is standing at the house of Haman.” Then the king said, “Hang it on it!” So they hanged Haman on the gallows that they had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.”  Can we imagine these were the two friends who ate and drank wine together?  Indeed (Numb. 23:23) “There is no sorcery against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘Oh, what God has done!’

Pride indeed goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall (Prov. 16:18). And those that had prepared a net for my steps when my soul is bowed down and they have dug a pit before me indeed, into the midst of it they themselves have fallen (Ps. 57:6). Haman made gallows fifty cubits high for Mordecai to be hanged, and he was hanged on the gallows instead! Behold the wicked brings forth iniquity; yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. I will praise God according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Most High” (Ps. 7:14-17).

“Grace to you and Favor from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. Amen and Amen and Amen.”