How to Stop the Apocalypse

Beginning tonight, Jews all over the word will celebrate the feast of Purim.

In a nutshell, the story of Purim is this:

In the 4th century B.C., the Jews were subjects of the Persian Empire. The King of Persia, Ahaseurus, was in the market for a new queen (he’d just had his old one executed). So he held a contest to select a new queen. A beautiful Jewish girl named Esther won his heart, and he made her his queen, without realizing she was Jewish.

Esther’s uncle Mordechai was one of the King’s advisors. But the king’s Prime Minister, Haman, hated the Jews. When Mordechai refused to bow to him, Haman convinced the King that all Jews were his enemies, and only putting every one of them to death would save the Empire.

Mordechai heard about Haman’s plan. He and Esther came up with a plan of their own. Under Mordechai’s leadership all the Jews in Persia prayed and fasted, while Esther, the King’s favorite, invited the King to a feast. The Queen was not allowed to invite the King anywhere. her job was to wait for him to summon her. But she gathered her courage and issued the invitation.

She did it a couple of times. Each time the King, against all protocol, came to her; each time he was reminded of his love for her. Finally Esther told the King about Haman’s plan. Enraged, the king had Haman executed. Esther had saved her people.

In SPN, the Apocalypse is thwarted by “two boys, an old drunk, and a fallen angel.” If you look up “motley crew” in Webster’s you will probably find a picture of those four. The least likely heroes in the world, they saved the world.

Esther was just a girl. Mordechai was just an aide. They had no army, no weapons, no powerful earthly allies. But their simple plan saved their world.

All things are possible with God. Oh, and with the Winchesters.

Now if you’lll excuse, I’m going to hit the local bakeries for some Hamatashen. I love those pastries.