AMALEK: THE ETERNAL ENEMY

Thought FOR TODAY
A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Our trails are like a well that others draw water from so they can
profit from where we have been. And, our path has a purpose beyond
where it leads.

AMALEK: THE ETERNAL ENEMY
"Jacob shall again have calm and quiet with none to trouble him; for I
am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD. I will make an end of all
the nations among which I have dispersed you; but I will not make an end
of you!" [Jeremiah (Yirmeyah) 30. 10 - 11 Tanakh, Nevi'im]
The Reason: Because the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY said so! The king of Egypt
could not weaken them (the Jewish people) [Exodus/Shemot 1. 9-12]; the
waters of the Red Sea could not drown them [Exodus/Shemot 14. 13-31];
Balaam could not curse them [Numbers/B'Midvar 23. 8]; the great fish
could not digest them [Jonah/Yonah 1. 17; 2. 10]; the fiery furnace
could not devour them [Daniel/Danyel 3. 16 - 28]; Haman's gallows could
not hang them [Esther/Ester 5 14; 8. 1 - 2]; nations could not
assimilate them [Esther/Ester 3. 8; Numbers/B'Midvar 23. 9]; and,
dictators cannot annihilate them. [Isaiah/Yeshayah 14. 1 - 2; 1
Chronicles/Dibre Hayamin Alef 17. 21 - 22]
No nation demonstrates as much bitterness toward the Israelites as did
the Amalekites. The ancient Israelites long remembered how this brutal
tribe attacked women, children, the aged, and the sick as they wandered
through the wilderness. The Israelites were told by the GOD MOST HIGH
that since Amalek did not revere or regard HIM, they were not to forget
what Amalek did "you shall BLOT OUT the memory of Amalek from under
heaven. Do not forget!" [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 25. 19 Tanakh, Torah]
It was not until the period of King Saul, son of Kish, who came from the
tribe of Benjamin, that there was an opportunity to deal a final blow to
the Amalekites. Unfortunately, King Saul was unable to completely
destroy the Amalekites; they survived only to haunt Israel and become a
famed personification of evil.
When Haman's lineage is identified in the Scroll of Esther, he is known
as the "Agagite" [Esther/Ester 3. 1], the name given to the last king of
the Amalekites captured under Saul. When Mordecai's pedigree is
identified, he is known as a descendant of "Kish, a Benjaminite"
[Esther/Ester 2. 5], the father of Saul.
The author (perhaps Mordecai, as he did keep records see 9. 20) of the
Megillah of Ester (Scroll of Esther) has remarkably brought together
these two central male characters to finish what could not be done a
thousand years earlier. The victory of Light over Darkness; of
Righteousness over Wickedness could now be played out between Mordecai
and Haman. For the Jewish people, the Amalekites and Haman became a
metaphor for wicked people or individuals. . . respectively, whose
hatred of Jews was unsatisfiable and merciless.
The Scroll of Esther has brilliantly woven together elements of the
ancient Israelite history by plucking out the unfinished business
between Saul and the Amalekites, as described in 1 Samuel 15; and by
projecting that clash between Amalek and Israel against the backdrop of
the story of Esther. On the Sabbath before Purim, Sabbath Zakhor
(Sabbath of Remembrance), a special section from the TORAH is read,
reminding Israel to remember Amalek, and the haf-TORAH is the story of
Saul and his failure to destroy this wicked and vicious tribe.
The struggle between good and evil never ceases, and so the world of
Amalek and Haman are still mentioned by Jews everywhere when they need
to identify a people who seeks to destroy them, or an individual who
hates them.
"Purim (lots - referring to the lots cast by Haman to determine the day
decreed for the Jewish annihilation) shall never cease among the Jews,
and the memory of them shall never perish among their descendants."
[Esther (Ester) 9. 28 Tanakh, Kethuvim] It is an "occasion for joy and
gladness, happy festivals for the House of Judah." [Zechariah
(Zecharyah) 8. 19 Tanakh, Nevi'im] This holiday is linked to love,
truth, integrity and peace.
Moreover, the followers of the LORD MESSIAH YESHUA have a greater
deliverance than the Jews of old; a greater enemy than Haman, but a
"GREATER DELIVERER" than Queen Esther. We, who know the MIGHTY
CONQUEROR, remember HIS promise that we also shall be conquerors over
every foe. The LORD JESUS has all power in heaven and earth declared
to all who believe on HIM: "Behold, I give you the authority to trample
on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and
nothing shall by any means hurt you." [Luke 10. 19 - 20] And, we
celebrate because our names are "Written in Heaven in the LAMB'S BOOK OF
LIFE!"

Sha'alu (Pray) for the Shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel!
As we bid farewell to Shabbas Zakhor (Sabbath of Remembrance), our
prayer is that GOD, WHO'S PRESENCE dwells within us, bless you
abundantly and guard you, our dear ones in the coming week. May some of
the sweetness of Sabbath be present throughout each day so they are
filled with love and unselfishness - that happiness and contentment may
abide in our homes. In tranquil joy of spirit, with pure speech and
holy melody exclaim: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD OF HOSTS, the whole
earth is full of HIS glory!".
"Hag Semaiach (Good Holiday)!" Always remember, faith celebrates even
before the victory is seen!
Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.
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