PURIM - LOTS

Petra Hadžidaova
Mar 1
3 min read

"In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month Adar".

Esther 3:7 (ASV)

(1)

INTRODUCTION

“What day should it be?

What day is perfect for destroying my enemy?”

Haman said, “Cast lots and we shall see”.

But God said, “It shall be according to my will; according to me.”

Instead of mourning and tears,

Through Esther and Mordechai aliavated were fears,

For Haman fell into the pit instead,

His blood was shed.

God’s people gathered as one,

to celebrate what was done.

Each year it has been so,

Purim, they celebrate with great joy.

PURIM AND JEWISH TRADITIONS

Sometimes doing good and obeying God can get us into trouble or even cost us things. Mordechai was merely obeying the God above all Gods by not bowing to Haman. But Haman took it very personally. He chose to come after all the jews in the Persian empire. He cast lots to choose a day for destruction. The ever-knowing God foresaw it all. He positioned Mordechai’s niece as queen for such a time as this. She intervened. A day that was meant for destruction turned out to be a day of rejoicing, joy, and victory. What a story of bravery from both Mordechai and Esther.

In honor of the great deliverance, each year jews all around the world have been gathering on the 14th or 15th of Adar. A day of feasting following a day of fasting. There is singing, dancing, and merrymaking. Children and adults put on costumes and eat traditional Purim pastries known as hamantaschen. But aboveall, Thorah is read. (2)

HEBREW WORD PURIM AND ITS BIBLICAL BACKGROUND

The Hebrew word for lot is pur, or purim in the plural. Haman cast lots to choose a date for destruction, but it ultimately failed. This is where the name of the holiday comes from. Its origins are found in the word parar, which means to break, frustrate, annul, and make void.

Quite ironic considering how Haman’s plans were ultimately made void, annulled. (3, 4)

YESHUA AND THE CASTING OF LOTS

Esther is not the only story mentioning the casting of lots. There is another story, much more intimate to us. During His last hours, the Roman soldiers in charge of Yeshua’s crucifixion cast lots for Yeshua’s beautiful cloak. What appeared at first glance as defeat filled with mourning, ended up as victory full of everlasting peace and joy. Yeshua arose from the dead and received back everything that was taken from them. He was girded with splendor and glory above all others.

FROM MOURNING TO JOY

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.

Psalm 126: 5 (NIV)

The Word promises to those who sow in tears a mighty harvest as a reward. The enemy of our souls may plot all they want. No one can redirect God’s blessings away from us. No one can curse that which He has chosen to bless. And if we have sown great seeds, we shall see our harvest. After every storm comes the sun.

CONCLUSION

Sometimes doing the right thing can get us into trouble. Mordechai chose to obey God, which incurred the wrath of Haman. He cast lots to determine the day of destruction for all the jews across the Persian empire. But man may plan, in the end, though, God ordains our steps. God foresaw what was to take place and positioned Hadaseh, renamed as Esther, as queen over the Persian empire. Her intervention with King Ahasverus turned a day appointed for destruction and mourning into a day of Joy. In response, jews gather on the 14th and 15th of Adar each year to celebrate Purim. The Hebrew word for lots is purim. Haman cast lots to choose a date for destruction, but it ultimately failed. This is where the name of the holiday comes from. Its origins are found in the word parar, which means to break, frustrate, annul, and make void.