“During that night the king could not sleep so he gave an order to bring the book of records, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. It was found written what Mordecai had reported concerning Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs who were doorkeepers, that they had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus…. So Haman took the robe and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, ‘Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor'” (Esth 6:1-2, 11).
The biblical authors saw God at work in patterns and parallels. Mordecai’s forgotten deed involving two of the king’s servants who were hung on a tree (Esth 2:23; see Gen 40:19, 22; 41:13), the king’s restless night that resulted in the deed being remembered (Esth 6:1-2; see Gen 41:1, 9), the provision of a royal robe to replace a garment of mourning (Esth 6:11; see Gen 41:14), being placed upon the king’s horse and honored in the streets (Esth 6:11; see Gen 41:43), the exaltation of Mordecai to the place of second to the king (Esth 6:3; 8:15; 9:4; 10:2-3; see Gen 41:40, 43), and the placing of the king’s signet ring upon the hand of Mordecai (Esth 8:2; Gen 41:42) are all patterns and parallels taken from the life of Joseph. When the authors of the Gospels describe the deeds of Yeshua in light of the patterns and parallels from the stories of Joseph, Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, they are not inventing a uniquely Christian way of speaking about a religious superhero of a new religion. Rather, they are speaking the language of the inspired biblical historians and prophets of old. To understand the person and work of Yeshua means more than proof-texting a handful of Old Testament prophecies. Rather, it is to become keenly aware of the patterns and parallels which are part and parcel of the fabric of the Old Testament narratives.
“And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him” (Matt 17:2-3).
