Thirteenth Day!

The day finally came: the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the thirteenth day. We are told in verse 1, On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them.

1 Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. 2 The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people. 3 And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent. 5 Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction, and did what they pleased with those who hated them.

6 And in Shushan the citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. 7 Also Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, 8 Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, 9 Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vajezatha— 10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews—they killed; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

11 On that day the number of those who were killed in Shushan the citadel was brought to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the citadel, and the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It shall be granted to you. Or what is your further request? It shall be done.”

13 Then Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do again tomorrow according to today’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the gallows.”

14 So the king commanded this to be done; the decree was issued in Shushan, and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.15 And the Jews who were in Shushan gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

16 The remainder of the Jews in the king’s provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth of the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

(Esther 9:1-17, New King James Version)

Thirteenth Day!

The day finally came: the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the thirteenth day. We are told in verse 1, On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them.

Thirteenth Day: Preparations

Look at all of the preparations God had made for this very day. First, God turned the decree made by Haman from a time of destruction for the Jews to a time of destruction of the enemies of the Jews. Were the Jews the only ones who fought against their enemies?

And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent.

Thirteenth Day: God is in Control!

From the time Esther was sent to the court, and including the time Mordecai uncovered a plot to kill the king, God had been moving through these circumstances to bring about His own will. Now He used Mordecai's position to bring help to the Jews from the king's men!

Think about that! When circumstances looked the most depressing to the Jews, everything was under the control of God Almighty. He had not neglected His people, but rather used the circumstances of daily life to bring about the destruction of His enemies.

Thirteenth Day: Lessons

This is a lesson we need to think very seriously about. Is God in charge of the circumstances of your life? When everything seems to be falling apart, are you still faithfully trusting in the Lord? I do not know about you, but sometimes that is really hard to do! We do not see God standing in front of us, and we do not see the angels encamped about us, and, yet, they are there!

The time of Esther was an extraordinary time, but was the response of God unique only to Esther and her people? This same God is walking right there beside you, if you are a Christian. He never leaves you or forsakes you, and he turns the events of your life in such a way that is always for your own good.

When children are disciplined by their parents, they do not think it is for their own good, do they? But what would happen to the child who never learned obedience to their parents if a car rushed down the road and the child is running right toward the street? Will they stop at their parents' command?

Oh, we do not like to think that way, do we? After all, we are too smart to run into the path of a moving car. Do not let the addiction of this age propel you to join in the actions of the rebellious teens of our age. It may be cool to hang out with them, but are they helping you to grow as a Christian?

Thirteenth Day: Lessons for a Lifetime!

These are questions you must ask your entire life. Unfortunately, we are still learning when we are in our 60's or our 90' or even our 100's. Heaven will be so sweet; the struggle will be over.

Go to Christ; He alone loves you and cares for you throughout all of the experiences of this life.

We have come to the end of the wonderful story of Esther. May her story inspire us to strengthen our own faith in God, for it is He who gives us hope, strength, joy, honor, and blessings!

God Bless You,

Linda