The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God! Psalm 68:35

Haman, the wicked enemy of the Jewish people, was gone.  But the terrible law he had invented was still there.  The king had signed it - there was no way to 'unsign' it.  

Queen Esther wept and begged the king to find a way of stopping her people from being killed.  The king, who had already given all of Haman's money and land to the queen, wanted to help.  But it seems he couldn't think of a way to do so.  He told Esther and her uncle Mordecai, 'You write a law about the Jews - whatever you want to write - and I'll sign it.'

Mordecai, who was now second only to the king, knew what to do.  He wrote a law which was sent out all over the world in one hundred and twenty-seven languages.  This new law allowed  the Jews who were in every city to band together and protect their lives.  The law gave them the right to fight back if anybody tried to harm them or their children.

All across the Empire, Jewish people rejoiced.  Wherever the new law was read out, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday.  A lot of people who were not Jewish joined them.

On the thirteenth day of the Jewish month called Adar (usually March in today's calendar) Mordecai's law came into effect.  Instead of the enemies of the Jews overpowering them, the Jews were able to survive.  They were safe - because Queen Esther trusted and obeyed God.

The fourteenth day of Adar became a day of feasting and gladness - Purim, a holiday that Jewish people have kept through the centuries and celebrate to this day.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You are the strength of Your people.  Amen.