The Hidden Miracle of Purim: Trusting God Even Within Nature

Rabbi Shimon Spitzer shares a profound insight we can learn from the Purim story for our personal lives. In the Book of Esther, a dialogue unfolds between Mordechai and Esther. Mordechai asks Esther to approach the king and plead for her people, yet Esther responds that such a step involves mortal danger. Mordechai answers her with the words, “If you remain silent at this time,” and following this, Esther finally agrees and asks, “Go and gather all the Jews.”

The Slonimer Rebbe, author of Netivot Shalom, explains Esther’s request as follows: Esther believed that, according to the natural order, there was no way to achieve relief or salvation. Anyone who approached the king uninvited was subject to death. What was required here was a miracle beyond nature, and she felt that the Jewish people were not worthy of such a miracle, since they had bowed to the idol and enjoyed the feast of that wicked king. Esther knew that God could perform miracles, yet she thought Israel was not spiritually deserving of such intervention.

Mordechai, however, argued differently. Even if the Jewish people were not worthy of open miracles — and even in our own times, because of spiritual decline, we do not experience miracles that overturn nature, nor should we pray for such supernatural changes, nevertheless, God has many paths. Even within the natural order, He can bring salvation. Even when no natural solution appears possible, God can orchestrate events so that redemption arrives through seemingly ordinary means.

This is what Mordechai meant when he told Esther, “Relief and salvation will arise for the Jews from another place.” God can save His people from elsewhere, even through natural processes. Indeed, the entire story of the Megillah unfolds within the framework of nature. Achashverosh’s decision to execute Vashti, his sleepless night leading him to the royal chronicles, all appear natural. Only one who reads the entire story from beginning to end recognizes the guiding hand of God behind it all.

According to Netivot Shalom, Mordechai’s statement “you and your father’s house will perish” meant that to merit salvation within nature, Esther needed to act with total self-sacrifice. Such devotion would awaken divine compassion for Israel. Esther therefore replied, “If I perish, I perish,” expressing her willingness to risk everything and arouse heavenly mercy.

From here we learn that anyone who wishes for nature itself to turn in their favor must act as Esther did — fulfilling their responsibility with self-sacrifice, praying to God, and placing full trust in Him, just as Esther told Mordechai, “Go and gather all the Jews.”

Esther’s Goal: Do Not Rely on Me, but Only on God

Esther requested that everyone gather in the synagogues, fast, and pray, placing their trust entirely in God without leaving any room in their hearts for other reliance. The sages teach (Megillah 15a): “Why did Esther invite Haman?” Rabbi Nechemiah explains that she did so “so that Israel would not say, ‘We have a sister in the king’s palace,’ and thereby divert their hearts from prayer.”

Esther understood that if the Jewish people thought their prayers were merely to assist her mission, the prayers would be ineffective. Therefore, she invited Haman, creating the impression that she sided with him, so that Israel would rely solely on God. Only then could her mission succeed.

The Path to Salvation: Lean Completely on God

In order for salvation to come through natural means, a person must release their dependence on supposed natural solutions. The moment one clings exclusively to a specific human strategy, they may shift their trust away from divine mercy. True reliance on God allows salvation to unfold even within nature.

People constantly share stories of salvation arriving through unexpected, ordinary channels — precisely because God is unlimited, and His hand is never too short to bring miracles within the natural world.

Therefore, if a person asks: “I know myself and feel unworthy of a supernatural miracle — how can I merit divine help?” the answer is this: even if one is not worthy of an open miracle beyond nature, God can still grant a miracle within nature. The condition is the same as in the days of Achashverosh — to set aside reliance on other solutions, to trust only in God, and to pray sincerely to Him.

Courtesy of the ‘Dirshu’ website.