Purim is a fantabulous celebration for several reasons. Like Christmas and Easter, it is not one of the moedim, or Feasts of the Lord, which God Himself created and ordained as eternally holy. It is a time that humans dedicated to “give some love back” and to commemorate God’s mighty work to save His people. We Gentile believers created Christmas and Easter to specially celebrate the birth and resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah: Savior, Deliverer, and King of all humankind. Long before His birth, the Jewish people created Purim to celebrate a singular event when God snatched his people, during an exile, from the murderous plot of Haman.
Because the name of God is “hidden” or “concealed” in the Book of Esther (the only book of the Scriptural cannon that does not contain the Name of God), it is traditionally celebrated as a wildly colorful costume party. Although some people merely dress up, the costume tradition is often the most fun. While many Christians and their families are often somewhat isolated in celebrating days like Purim, it still can be fun to dress up or don a costume.
The most sacred and important Purim tradition is the public reading of the Book of Esther. My husband and I often celebrate Purim alone, and we often livestream a Purim service where Esther is read aloud, or find a free recording of the Book of Esther online and listen. It is traditional to boo and hiss when the name Haman is read and to cheer whenever Esther and Mordecai are mentioned.
Purim is also celebrated by giving gifts to friends and to the poor. The sharing of a feast is also customary. A particular baked cookie is often served, called “hamantaschen.” Depending on who one asks, this treat symbolizes the hat or the ears of Haman.
A vital applicational message of Purim for us to teach our children is the principle that God defended His people, and will always defend His people. Throughout human history, the Jewish people have been persecuted, and, in the end, God has always delivered His chosen people from persecution, and their aggressors have been utterly put down.
We must teach our children about the covenants God made with Israel throughout Scripture, because these covenants convey the character of God. Because He is always faithful and true to all He has promised, God has always and will always remain true to His word. His faithfulness to His chosen people, even in the worst of times, teaches us that He will always be faithful to the whole world. The singularly righteous character of God is revealed in His promises and in His record of faithfulness to perform all that He has said He will do.
Scripture teaches us about the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, which is yet future, and is the culmination of human history. During this cruel, challenging and exciting time, the persecution of Israel and followers of Jesus will be worse than it ever has been before. Israel will be subjugated and nearly decimated and crushed by an evil empire led by a wicked man: the “man of sin.” Christians who follow Jesus will face a choice to stand up for His people, however we may. This trouble directly precedes and culminates in the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who will fight against the enemies of His people and reveal that He is the Messiah. At that time, “all Israel will be saved.” We who were born Gentiles and who have decided to follow Jesus need to prepare our children to stand on the right side of history during this time, come what may. During Purim, it is right to reflect upon our dedication to stand up for the rights of the Jewish people whenever and wherever they are oppressed. Queen Esther herself is a marvelous example of this bravery and remains a vital and vibrant Biblical role model for children.
Besides reading the Book of Esther during Purim, it is lovely to open Romans 11 with your children and discuss the deep meaning of this chapter, which describes how God has planned to save the whole world through Israel. He will rescue the people of Israel in the darkest of times we call the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble.” There is a great warning here as well. Those of us who follow Jesus must never be proud towards Israel, or God will remove us from our adopted place among His people. He will save His people, and if we follow Him, we must long for this, pray for this, and work for this:
“…all Israel will be saved, as it is written, ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob; and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins’” (Romans 11:26-27).
Taryn (TRex) is a Christian wife and musician. She works with Jacob’s Refuge, a network designed to help Christians unite to stand up for the Jewish people when they are persecuted. JacobsRefuge.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf5bm2WHMXuJwHQkm4uDNAw
