ripple effect: vacaville

Read Esther 3:1-15.

1. Some Jewish traditions say that the fact that Haman is an Agagite is significant. Remember, Agag was the king of the Amalekites, a culture that HATED the Jews and made life miserable when they were trying to settle in the Promised Land. So, if Haman was a Agagite, there would be reason for him to hate the Jewish people.
2. I have a hard time grasping having to bow down to nobles. Shoot, we’re the culture that says hateful things about our OWN president. God have mercy on us.
3. Of course, we know why Mordecai wouldn’t bow down–Haman wasn’t God!
4. Notice that the servants tattle-tail to Haman about this; and, of course, you know that this is going to be a problem because they are making it about following Xerxes (a king who considered himself to be a god).
5. Talk about racism, Haman wants to kill not only Mordecai but all his people as well. It makes it seem like he was just looking for a reason. Do you think he was bred to hate the Jews?
6. I’m not sure what the casting lots was about…
7. If you want to get at the Jews, the “they won’t worship, you, oh king” approach is usually a good one. Oh, and while Haman’s at it, he gives him tons and tons of money. Like more money that the king would get from exacting taxes on all the 127 provinces in a year.
8. Sneaky Haman also makes it look like this is all about helping Xerxes, when we know good and well what his real motives are. Then again, aren’t motives the easiest thing to fake?
9. Interestingly, Xerxes doesn’t take the money; but he still allows Haman do carry out the extermination of the Jews. Geez…this sounds like Nazi Germany.
10. The order was to completely annihilate everyone. Remember, this is all about one man’s ego. Oh, and they’ll take all their goods. I can’t help but flash back to my time at the Holocaust Museum in DC, seeing all the piles and piles of shoes taken from the Jews. The Nazi’s didn’t just take gold…they took hair to use. Sick.
11. How do you get ready for a day like that?
12. It says that the city was bewildered. I wonder if that means that this just seemed random–out of nowhere. Obviously it didn’t make sense to the common people for the Jews to be destroyed. Yeah…the plot definitely thickens…