When God rescued Israel from slavery… “He brought forth his people with joy, and His chosen with gladness” – (Psalm 105:43). You can imagine the rejoicing, yet it was still 40 years before they reached the Promised Land. But they celebrated their Savior all the way. Their arrival was sure.
When God exalted Esther to be Queen in Persia, He set her in place to save the Jews from the genocidal hatred of Haman. When Esther intervened to her king and husband, revealing her true identity and requesting to save her people, the king hung Haman and granted her request. The decree went out that the Jews could defend themselves. They had the king’s favor… “And the Jews had light, gladness, joy, and honor. And in every province, and in every city, wherever the king’s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast, and a good day” – (Esther 8:16,17). They celebrated God’s deliverance before the fighting began. Victory was sure.
It was God’s choice of words when the angel Gabriel said to Zacharias… “Your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you shall have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth” – (Luke 1:14). John would be the herald of the Savior of the world, bringing the greatest rescue of all – from sin and death and hell. How much more ought we to have joy and gladness, a feast, and a good day!
A greater than Moses has come. A greater than Esther sits at the Father’s right hand, assuring our victories and the enemy’s defeat. We don’t have to wait to stand on Heaven’s shores to celebrate. Jesus is Lord…
And the Best is yet to come.
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