Counter-Measures (A Perfect Picture of Christ)

The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies. [Esther 8.11]

Here's the interesting thing about this verse: this is exactly what Christ has done for us.

Just like Xerxes first decreed, "Dispatches were sent by swift messengers into all the provinces of the empire, giving the order that all Jews—young and old, including women and children—must be killed, slaughtered, and annihilated on a single day. This was scheduled to happen on March 7 of the next year. The property of the Jews would be given to those who killed them." [Esther 3.13] because of Haman's accusations and encouragement to do so, so God, in perfect justice and holiness, was committed to the death and destruction of all who sinned.

But Jesus. perfectly foretold in the life of Mordecai, brought a counter measure - not that invalidates the first decree, but transcends it with a new decree. That decree is that the enemy of God's people has been defeated (impaled on a pole in the case of Haman) and that God's people are free to not only defend themselves, but to aggressively seek out and destroy their enemies.

This is all very exciting for a follower of Christ. Every plan the enemy has implemented to kill, steal, and destroy has been counter-measured by the blood and authority of Jesus with a new plan! That new plan provides for protection and domination for its participants (believers). So now, for those who follow Christ, everything intended to kill, steal, and destroy, can now be proactively pursued with Kingdom authority in like kind.

What's more, the new edict made possible by Mordecai, not only provided for a measure-for-measure response, but it also provided the added advantage of a second day of attack. In Kingdom-speak, this means that although Satan has plotted against us, we have measure-for-measure authority because of Jesus to fight back AND we have the added advantage of a second day, which gives us the upper hand against the one who would kill, steal and destroy! Jesus fought that first-day battle for us, and now, we are engaged in that second-day battle!

Let me explain the battle in case it is misunderstood here: 

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. [Ephesians 6.12]

But here is the catch... if we are ignorant of the decree of God on our behalf through Jesus, we remain subject to annihilation by our enemy. Here is where the king's fastest horses are employed - here is where Jesus' commission to us is imperative! We must go tell!

So, there are two things for us to see ourselves responsible for: spreading the news and the battle itself.

Father, I am grateful for this fresh perspective from the book of Esther today. Thank You! Help me to engage others to join me in engaging my (Our) enemy with every confidence of having Your decree to do so!