A Series of Fortunate Events
The delightful holiday of Purim celebrates a dramatic series of events during the reign of King Ahasuerus in Persia (486 BCE-465 BCE). The king's sinister vizier, Haman, had planned to exterminate all of the Jews in Persia on account of one particular Jew, named Mordecai, who refused to bow down to him.
But, Mordecai just happened to be the cousin of King Ahasuerus's beloved wife, Queen Esther. As it turns out, the king had no idea his queen was Jewish. So, when Haman asked him for permission to kill all the Jews, the king said, "Sure."
Not wanting to die, Mordecai convinced his cousin to intervene. And, after a series of nail-biting dinner parties, Queen Esther revealed to King Ahasuerus that she, too was a Jew and Haman was trying to kill her. Long story short—Haman was the one who got killed.
And, of course, the Jews rejoiced. Hurray for Esther! Hurray for Mordecai!
But, what about G-d?
This ancient story of deliverance somehow doesn't mention G-d even once. It's all plot-twists and ironic turnarounds. So, where was G-d in all this? Wouldn't He be protecting and preserving His people during this time of existential threat?
Initially, Esther balked at Mordecai's insistence that she must confront her husband about Haman's plan. The king could have her killed just for daring to speak to him unsummoned. But, her cousin told her:
“Don’t imagine that you alone of all the Jews will escape because you belong to the king’s household. If you persist in remaining silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another quarter, but you and your family will perish. Who knows? Maybe you have been raised to the throne for a time like this!”
Esther didn't do anything, in particular, to end up as the queen of what was at that time the most powerful empire on earth. She was dragged into the king's harem by force, and the king just happened to really like her. It was just a roll of the dice, really.
And, even Mordecai had no way of knowing where those dice would land. G-d never said a word to either of them. But, the events themselves just boxed Esther into a corner: She could risk her own life, or risk the lives of her people. Would she be the "hand" G-d would use to save the Jews? G-d seemed to pose the question not through words, but through actions.
You don't have to believe in G-d to know that calamities create opportunities. Esther decided to cope with the disaster at hand by exchanging her own safety for the safety of others. In other words, she became the hand of G-d through self-sacrifice.
There have been times in my own life when I've wondered where G-d was. It felt like He was hiding when I needed him most. But, the story of Esther reminds me that He was there all along, providing me with opportunities to serve His purposes, rather than my own. Sometimes, our suffering is what allows us to comfort, heal, and even save others.
When disaster strikes, fear can keep us from seeing what's really happening. We don't hear about G-d in the story of Purim, but we certainly can see His work. No matter what we believe or don't believe, we all can do our best to turn calamity into redemption—not through our words, but through our actions. And, aren't those words to live by?
"For the Jews there was light, joy, gladness and honor."
And, so may it be for us all—Happy Purim!