Hope In Hopelessness

“The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.” (Es 8:16 AV)

God is not a tyrant.  He is not out to make our lives unbearable.  Even when we deserve it, the LORD does not allow us to remain is difficult circumstances without some ray of hope.  Such is the case above.

Haman, a wicked egotistical man, moved with envy against the Jews.  Because Mordecai refused to worship him, he moved the king to write a decree for the destruction of the Hebrews.  Only by the miraculous intervention of the LORD by using Esther to write additional legislation, allowing for the Jews to defend themselves, did the Hebrews have this light.  Because of 490 years of Sabbath year neglect, the people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon.  They would be there for 70 years, on year for every Sabbath year ignored, until the promised land had its rest.  They were captive in a city and land that was antagonistic to their faith.  Often enslaved, they were denied the ability to live completely as Jews.  This hatred reached a boiling point with Haman and Mordecai.  Things were going from bad to worse.  According to the curses of Deuteronomy, the Hebrews deserved to be destroyed.  However, God made an unconditional covenant with them and they would endure by the grace of God.

God may, and often does, have to chasten us.  Or, He may ask us to go through really difficult faith building trials.  But there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.  It is up to us to look for it.  The Word of God warns us not to chasten our children above that which they can handle lest they become completely defeated in the process.  There has to be some hope laid out there.  God does this for us.  He will not chasten us to the point we are completely lost from any hope.  He may be seeking to break our wills.  But not our spirit.  There is a difference.  If you find yourself in the midst of hard times, look for God’s light. It will be there.