Esther 8:11

These letters authorised the Jews in all these places to gather together to protect their own lives. They now had permission to destroy, kill and annihilate any people who assaulted them. The day set for this was the 13th day of the 12th month — the same day the first decree had authorised the killing of the Jews (vv. 11-12). So, although the laws of the Medes and Persians could not be changed, the second edict made the first one useless in practice, and did so legally.

In Esther 3:12 and Esther 8:8 we find two letters of King Ahasuerus. The first came from Haman's influence and scheming, so that men should rise up and wipe out the Jews. The second came under Mordecai's guidance, and authorised the Jews to destroy anyone who dared lay hands on them. Both letters went out in the king's name and carried the seal of the king's ring, and neither was cancelled. No one may reverse writing that is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's ring. So the seal meant the unchangeable purpose and will of the one whose seal it was.

The proclamation of death stood, but a proclamation of life now stood beside it. They did not need to die. Their enemies were given into their hands. They acted on this second proclamation and believed what it said. The first decree stood and no one could revoke it. Yet they learned that the second decree set them free from death and gave them liberty.

When the first decree went out, the king's command hurried the couriers on (3:15). This second time we read that Mordecai "sent letters by couriers on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries" — the swiftest animals went into the service, and the king's command hurried the messengers on (8:10, 14). Everyone could see the king's agreement to the first decree; everyone could notice his warmth in making the second one known.

Perplexity gave way to gladness; feasting took the place of fasting. Why? The thirteenth of Adar had not yet come. The first decree stood unrepealed. Why this change? The written word of that second decree had made all the difference. Relief had come; a way of escape from that dreadful doom was offered to the Jews. They believed it, and they acted as if they believed it. They were now free to stand for their lives, and to destroy, to kill, and to wipe out all the force of any people or province that would attack them. That freedom assured them of safety from death. So they could wait in complete confidence for the day they had once dreaded.

But notice: the first decree still threatened them with doom. To escape it, they had to stand up for their lives and kill their attackers. They had to be active, in line with the terms of the second decree. If they let themselves go slack, death would be their portion.

This is a very striking picture of the way Israel will be preserved and blessed through the Tribulation. Her sins against God have by law earned the solemn sentence of death. But God in great mercy will step in to give life instead of death. It is the same for all mankind today. The law of God has passed the sentence of death on all men. But God has stepped in. He sent His own Son to bear sin's penalty on Calvary, for the blessing of all who will receive His Son as Saviour and Lord.