Under the favor shown them by Cyrus, nearly fifty
thousand of the children of the captivity had taken
advantage of the decree permitting their return. These,
however, in comparison with the hundreds of thousands
scattered throughout the provinces of Medo-Persia, were
but a mere remnant. The great majority of the Israelites
had chosen to remain in the land of their exile rather than
undergo the hardships of the return journey and the
re-establishment of their desolated cities and homes.
A score or more of years passed by, when a second decree,
quite as favorable as the first, was issued by Darius Hystaspes,
the monarch then ruling. Thus did God in mercy provide
another opportunity for the Jews in the Medo-Persian realm
to return to the land of their fathers. The Lord foresaw the
troublous times that were to follow during the reign of
Xerxes,--the Ahasuerus of the book of Esther,--and He
not only wrought a change of feeling in the hearts of men
in authority, but also inspired Zechariah to plead with the
exiles to return.
"Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the
north," was the message given the scattered tribes of Israel
who had become settled in many lands far from their former
home. "I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the
heaven, saith the Lord. Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest
with the daughter of Babylon. For thus saith the Lord
of hosts; After the glory hath He sent me unto the nations
which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the
apple of His eye. For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon
them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye
shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me." Zechariah
2:6-9.
It was still the Lord's purpose, as it have been from the
beginning, that His people should be a praise in the earth,
to the glory of His name. During the long years of their
exile He had given them many opportunities to return to
their allegiance to Him. Some had chosen to listen and to
learn; some had found salvation in the midst of affliction.
Many of these were to be numbered among the remnant that
should return. They were likened by Inspiration to "the
highest branch of the high cedar," which was to be planted
"upon an high mountain and eminent: in the mountain of
the height of Israel." Ezekiel 17:22, 23.
It was those "whose spirit God had raised" (Ezra 1:5)
who had returned under the decree of Cyrus. But God ceased
not to plead with those who voluntarily remained in the
land of their exile, and through manifold agencies He made
it possible for them also to return. The large number,
however, of those who failed to respond to the decree of
Cyrus, remained unimpressible to later influences; and even
when Zechariah warned them to flee from Babylon without
further delay, they did not heed the invitation.
Meanwhile conditions in the Medo-Persian realm were
rapidly changing. Darius Hystaspes, under whose reign
the Jews had been shown marked favor, was succeeded by
Xerxes the Great. It was during his reign that those of the
Jews who had failed of heeding the message to flee were
called upon to face a terrible crisis. Having refused to take
advantage of the way of escape God had provided, now
they were brought face to face with death.
Through Haman the Agagite, an unscrupulous man
high in authority in Medo-Persia, Satan worked at this time
to counterwork the purposes of God. Haman cherished
bitter malice against Mordecai, a Jew. Mordecai had done
Haman no harm, but had simply refused to show him worshipful
reverence. Scorning to "lay hands on Mordecai
alone," Haman plotted "to destroy all the Jews that were
throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the
people of Mordecai." Esther 3:6.
Misled by the false statements of Haman, Xerxes was
induced to issue a decree providing for the massacre of all
the Jews "scattered abroad and dispersed among the people
in all the provinces" of the Medo-Persian kingdom. Verse
8. A certain day was appointed on which the Jews were
to be destroyed and their property confiscated. Little did
the king realize the far-reaching results that would have
accompanied the complete carrying out of this decree. Satan
himself, the hidden instigator of the scheme, was trying
to rid the earth of those who preserved the knowledge of
the true God.
"In every province, whithersoever the king's commandment
and his decree came, there was great mourning among
the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many
lay in sackcloth and ashes." Esther 4:3. The decree of the
Medes and Persians could not be revoked; apparently there
was no hope; all the Israelites were doomed to destruction.
But the plots of the enemy were defeated by a Power
that reigns among the children of men. In the providence
of God, Esther, a Jewess who feared the Most High, had
been made queen of the Medo-Persian kingdom. Mordecai
was a near relative of hers. In their extremity they decided
to appeal to Xerxes in behalf of their people. Esther was
to venture into his presence as an intercessor. "Who knoweth,"
said Mordecai, "whether thou art come to the kingdom
for such a time as this?" Verse 14.
The crisis that Esther faced demanded quick, earnest
action; but both she and Mordecai realized that unless God
should work mightily in their behalf, their own efforts
would be unavailing. So Esther took time for communion
with God, the source of her strength. "Go," she directed
Mordecai, "gather together all the Jews that are present in
Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink
three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast
likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not
according to the law: and if I perish, I perish." Verse 16.
The events that followed in rapid succession,--the appearance
of Esther before the king, the marked favor shown
her, the banquets of the king and queen with Haman as
the only guest, the troubled sleep of the king, the public
honor shown Mordecai, and the humiliation and fall of
Haman upon the discovery of his wicked plot,--all these
are parts of a familiar story. God wrought marvelously
for His penitent people; and a counter decree issued by the
king, allowing them to fight for their lives, was rapidly
communicated to every part of the realm by mounted
couriers, who were "hastened and pressed on by the king's
commandment." "And in every province, and in every
city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree
came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good
day. And many of the people of the land became Jews;
for the fear of the Jews fell upon them." Esther 8:14, 17.
On the day appointed for their destruction, "the Jews
gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all
the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such
as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them;
for the fear of them fell upon all people." Angels that
excel in strength had been commissioned by God to protect
His people while they "stood for their lives." Esther 9:2, 16.
Mordecai was given the position of honor formerly occupied
by Haman. He "was next unto King Ahasuerus, and
great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of
his brethren" (Esther 10:3); and he sought to promote
the welfare of Israel. Thus did God bring His chosen
people once more into favor at the Medo-Persian court,
making possible the carrying out of His purpose to restore
them to their own land. But it was not until several years
later, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes I, the successor of
Xerxes the Great, that any considerable number returned
to Jerusalem, under Ezra.
The trying experiences that came to God's people in
the days of Esther were not peculiar to that age alone. The
revelator, looking down the ages to the close of time, has
declared, "The dragon was wroth with the woman, and
went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep
the commandments of God, and have the testimony of
Jesus Christ." Revelation 12:17. Some who today are living
on the earth will see these words fulfilled. The same spirit
that in ages past led men to persecute the true church, will
in the future lead to the pursuance of a similar course toward
those who maintain their loyalty to God. Even now preparations
are being made for this last great conflict.
The decree that will finally go forth against the remnant
people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus
against the Jews. Today the enemies of the true church
see in the little company keeping the Sabbath commandment,
a Mordecai at the gate. The reverence of God's people for
His law is a constant rebuke to those who have cast off
the fear of the Lord and are trampling on His Sabbath.
Satan will arouse indignation against the minority who
refuse to accept popular customs and traditions. Men of
position and reputation will join with the lawless and the
vile to take counsel against the people of God. Wealth,
genius, education, will combine to cover them with contempt.
Persecuting rulers, ministers, and church members
will conspire against them. With voice and pen, by boasts,
threats, and ridicule, they will seek to overthrow their faith.
By false representations and angry appeals, men will stir
up the passions of the people. Not having a "Thus saith
the Scriptures" to bring against the advocates of the Bible
Sabbath, they will resort to oppressive enactments to supply
the lack. To secure popularity and patronage, legislators
will yield to the demand for Sunday laws. But those who
fear God, cannot accept an institution that violates a precept
of the Decalogue. On this battlefield will be fought the last
great conflict in the controversy between truth and error.
And we are not left in doubt as to the issue. Today, as in
the days of Esther and Mordecai, the Lord will vindicate
His truth and His people.