In vo-tech, I learned to defend
myself against malicious marauding gonna-be mechanics snapping shop towels at
vulnerable students. The professor of
the lab time would, on occasion during the summer session, allow a hapless
student to defend himself. I learned efficient moves and tender spots to snap. I
learned dipping the tip in fluid would cause welts upon the attacker’s
skin. I also learned that the little red
shop towel was more efficient that a large bath towel in the dorms. I could get
in close and get the attacker to back off.
On one victorious occasion, I was able to fend off four rag-snapping
bullies. I became the self-proclaimed champion of shop towel snapping. Self-defense
was legal and beneficial for my personal self-preservation.
When our enemy sets out to
destroy us, we can stand against him.
The devil is ultimately behind the wicked attacks, but we have to deal
with his heart-hardened human representatives, too. God gives us permission to do so: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of
God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand.” Ephesians 6:13.
The Jews in this instance did not
seek a confrontation. Their enemies in the kingdom wanted to take advantage of
a law put into place by Haman. The King gave the Jews a legal opportunity to
fight back with a new law. They were given every legal means to protect
themselves, which they did. Notice in
this verse that they did not take the spoil.
This means they only fought for their lives and nothing more.
“But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered
themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their
enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not
their hands on the prey,” Esther 9:16.
© copyright Kevin T Boekhoff
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