by Rabbi Ed Rothman
In each of our lives there are defining moments when we find ourselves
faced with a predicament of unimaginable magnitude. In the midst
of circumstances that are so completely out of our control that
it seems as though hell itself is bent on our destruction. The Biblical
feasts of Passover and Purim present powerful, yet practical parallel
paradigms of the providential purpose that G-d has eternally prepared
to preserve us for our prophetic destiny. Passover and Purim portray
G-d protecting us from power-mad predators while fulfilling His
promise to our patriarchs and their progeny. In this hyper-skeptical
age of computer-generated special effects, psychobabble, and information
overload we all can humbly learn from these ancient epochs of divine
intervention that G-d is still a very present help in our time of
trouble (Psalm 46:1). He is the same compassionate deliverer for
us today as He was for Israel in days of old (Hebrews 13:8).
Passover and Purim have a unique inter-relationship in their juxtaposition
to each other. On one hand they are as different as night and day
in that Passover is first of the major feasts of the L-RD and one
of three pilgrimage festivals cited in Exodus 34:18-24. While Purim
is a minor feast, that does not carry a negative consequence for
failing to observe it and it is the very last feast to be celebrated
in the Jewish calendar year. Yet, both Purim and Passover have common
paradigms meant to teach us the same profound, life changing lessons.
The combined revelation of these two feasts can re-energize our
faith, empowering us to confidently face catastrophic circumstances
that will not only challenge the depth of our spirituality, but
will shake us to the very core of our reliance upon G-d and the
trustworthiness of His eternal Word.
Passover is the first of the seven major biblical feasts of the
L-RD found in Leviticus 23:1-44 and is celebrated on the fourteenth
day of Aviv or Nissan , the first month of the biblical Jewish calendar.
It is interesting to find that the symbol for this month among the
constellations of the Mazzaroth is the Lamb, being that Y'shua (Jesus)
the Messiah is revealed in scripture as the Lamb of G-d who takes
away the sins of the world! The dramatic story leading up to and
including Passover is told in Exodus, chapters 1-14.
The roots of Passover can be found in Genesis 15 when G-d made
a covenant with Abram and revealed to him the future of his descendants
living in affliction and servitude in a strange land for 430 years.
He further disclosed that He would judge that nation (Egypt) for
abusing His covenant people and bring the Israelites out of their
captivity with great wealth. They would have to languish in bondage
until the iniquity of the Amorite's had reached its full measure
(Genesis 15:13-16). He intended to take Israel, a nation of simple
slaves to exact His justice upon an utterly immoral people guilty
of giving their sons & daughters as burnt offerings to Chemosh,
the national idol they worshipped. In Numbers 21:21-32, we find
the account of Israel trying to pass peacefully through the land
of the Amorite's until they were attacked by them and subsequently
totally annihilated.
Purim reveals the same paradigms within the tapestry of its incredible
story found in the Book of Esther, which never mentions G-d once.
Yet His omnipotent power and omniscient knowledge are as clearly
apparent as the catastrophic calamity that the Jews found themselves
in over and over again. The book of Esther is a must read. It contains
all the ingredients of a classic movie epic. It chronicles the events
of those Jews that were carried away into exile by King Nebuchadnezzar
of Babylon, and they were now living under the rule of Ahasuerus,
king of the Medes and Persians, who conquered the Babylonians.
Continued on Page 2
Paradigms - (Pair'-a-dimes) = Examples or patterns of truth that
guide and shape our thinking and our actions.
Pesach - (Pay'-sock) Hebrew = Passover commemorates the miraculous
deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt.
Purim - (Poor'-reem) Persian = Commemorates the deliverance of the
Jews on the day of their planned destruction.
Aviv - (Ah'-veev) Hebrew = Spring. The first month in the biblical
Hebrew calendar, that marks the beginning of spring.
Nissan - (Neese'-on) Assyrian - Another name for the Hebrew calendar
month Aviv.
Mazzarot - (Mahz-a-wrote') Hebrew = The Hebrew Zodiac. G-d made
the stars to declare His glory (Psalm 19:1-4). |
