Queen Esther

We saw the picture above this week - an Israeli soldier dressed for Purim - love it!!

In Israel and around the world, Jews - and those who join them - are celebrating God's faithful deliverance! Purim comes directly from the book of Esther.  

Esther 9:26-28

"This is why these days have been called Purim, after the word pur. Thus, because of everything written in this letter, and what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had come upon them,

the Jews resolved and took upon themselves, their descendants and all who might join them that without fail they would observe these two days in accordance with what was written in this letter and at the appointed time, every year;and that these days would be remembered and observed throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city; and that these days of Purim would never cease among the Jews or their memory be lost by their descendants."

We recommend joining the Jewish people in reading the entire book of Esther to get the full understanding of how amazing this real-life story really is!!  And this story has continued throughout the existence of the Jewish people, right up to present day.  Many people groups try to annihilate them as a people, and God continues to deliver them. Same story, different generation.  This is why they are to remember and celebrate God's faithfulness "throughout every generation, every family, every province and every city."  

For those who don't already know, Iran is modern day Persia from the book of Esther.  It wasn't until 1934 that the world began calling Persia, Iran.  And "Iran" comes from the word "Ayran" (which should also sound familiar from that same time period of Nazi Germany).  

"On the 25th December [1934] the Persian Ministry for Foreign Affairs addressed a circular memorandum to the Foreign Diplomatic Missions in Tehran requesting that the terms "Iran" and "Iranian" might be used in official correspondence and conversation as from the 21st March next instead, of the words "Persia" and "Persian" hitherto in current use. His Majesty's Minister in Tehran has been instructed to accede to this request." - Wikipedia 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_Iran

If you would like to watch a movie about Esther, here is a link to a pretty good rendition called "One Night With the King."  We watch it each year at Purim.

Here's a few pictures of the stores selling all kinds of Purim costumes in preparations.

All kinds of Queen Esther crowns.

Oh!  Did we forget to mention the famous hamantaschen cookies??  They come with several different types of filling.  Our favorite is chocolate, tastes like chocolate chip cookies. YUM!!!

As we are all watching our world change, let us remember not only God's faithfulness to deliver, but also ask Him what our part is to play in standing up for what is right and true.

"For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther 14:4