The Megillah of Esther is the only book of the Tanach in which G-d’s name is not mentioned. One explanation is that the Megillah is teaching us that even when G-d is not openly revealed in the world, and no supernatural miracles occur, still He is behind the scenes, manipulating political events to protect His people in exile.
Nevertheless, there are unmistakable references to G-d in various parts of the story. For example, Esther told the Mordechai to gather the Jews and have them fast for three days. Clearly, this was a prayer gathering, as all Jewish fasts are. The message is that only mass prayer ensured that Esther’s plea to the king, and the subsequent self-defense by the Jews, was successful.
In fact, Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman writes,
We find two festivals (Purim and Chanukah) which were established for all generations as a remembrance of our escape from the evil decrees of Haman and Antiochus. But there is a difference between these two festivals. Purim was established as a day of feasting and rejoicing, whereas the eight days of Chanukah are not intended primarily for this purpose (there is no mitzvah to eat a feast on Chanukah). The reason for this is explained by the Levush (a famous work of halacha). The decree of Haman was to destroy us bodily, to kill and annihilate us. It is not mentioned at all that our forefathers could have saved themselves by abandoning their faith. But the decree of Antiochus was only on the soul. (Jews who abandoned the Torah were in no danger.)
Now let us see what our ancestors did then. What measures did they take to save themselves from the two decrees? We find that in response to the decree of of Haman, they gathered and fasted. Also, “Esther fell before the king’s feet and she cried and entreated him” – but it did not occur to any of the Jews to use physical means against Haman…
It is quite clear that in Haman’s time, fighting physically was not the way, and the appropriate response to the situation was to follow the example of their forefathers and cry out to G-d. But with Antiochus’ decree, while the Jews also fasted and prayed to G-d, this alone was not sufficient, and it was necessary to risk their lives in war…
If the decree is a physical one, as in Haman’s time, it is the work of G-d, and its purpose is to improve us. “The removal of the king’s signet ring (giving Haman the right to kill the Jews) was a more powerful catalyst for repentance than all the prophets.” It was a situation where there was no plan for waging war, and war would not have succeeded. (Only after the decree was annulled and the king’s army backed the Jews, were the Jews able to kill the anti-Semitic followers of Haman in self-defense.)
But if the decree is on the soul and its purpose is to make us give up our faith, and not to make us improve our ways, it is not the work of G-d, but the work of the Satan (whom G-d created to test us), and therefore in order to weaken the strength of the Satan, it is necessary for Jews to be prepared to sacrifice their lives, even through battle.
As the Torah says, “The voice is the voice of Jacob and the hands are the hands of Esau” (Bereishis 27:22), and the Midrash comments, “Jacob’s power is only through his voice, and Esau’s power is only through his hands.”
When the Jewish people were passing by the land of Edom (Esau) centuries later, they told Edom the story of how they had prayed to G-d and He had taken them out of slavery in Egypt (Bamidbar 20:16). Edom responded with a threat, “You are boasting about the blessing our father gave you: your voice. We will come out with the blessing our father gave us: you shall live by the sword.” (Rashi on v. 18)
The Jewish people’s ideal was to live by their prayer and study, not to live by the sword like Esau.
Today as well, Purim, the day when the Jewish people triumphed through prayer, is an opportune time for prayer. Let’s take this opportunity to pray to G-d for safety and peace everywhere.