Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Congress on March 3. This address came at a critical time for both our nations. Interestingly enough Netanyahu came at the start of the Jewish festival of Purim. Purim commemorates the time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination from Haman by the heroic act of Queen Esther.
Netanyahu stated in his speech, “We’re an ancient people. In our nearly 4,000 years of history, many have tried repeatedly to destroy the Jewish people. Tomorrow night, on the Jewish holiday of Purim, we’ll read the Book of Esther. We’ll read of a powerful Persian viceroy named Haman, who plotted to destroy the Jewish people some 2,500 years ago. But a courageous Jewish woman, Queen Esther, exposed the plot and gave for the Jewish people the right to defend themselves against their enemies.
The plot was foiled. Our people were saved.
Today the Jewish people face another attempt by yet another Persian potentate to destroy us.”
Nation, we cannot miss his words! Netanyahu positioned himself as a Mordecai coming before an Esther to intercede on behalf of his people. Mordecai came to Esther to intercede on the Jews behalf, he said to her, “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14).
Our support of the nation of Israel cannot waver. We must stand in the gap and intercede on their behalf. Netanyahu came to us, while our nation was sitting down with the leaders of Iran to negotiate a deal that could threaten Israel and the Middle East. Our President is not acting in the best interests of Israel.
Prayerfully consider Netanyahu’s words in the spirit of Mordecai. We cannot remain silent, we must rise up at such a time as this! God will protect Israel, but our survival could be affected by how we react at this time. Truly we were born for such a time as this!
Esther said, “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
Let us do likewise. Pray and Fast! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and pray for our president. Do not be silent. Let your voice be heard! We stand with Israel!
You can watch Netanyahu’s speech here.
