The Chasam Sofer strives to identify the true miracle of the Purim narrative. While Klal Yisroel’s salvation from the evil plots of Haman is certainly an event worth celebrating, it is not entirely beyond the realm of the expected. Hakodosh Boruch Hu would not punish His nation if the people changed their ways and repented earnestly. Hashem’s acceptance of our teshuvah could hardly be regarded as a miracle.
When Esther pleaded for her life and for the lives of her nation, Achashveirosh’s allegiance shifted from Haman. This was a remarkable occurrence, but again, not a distinctly surprising one. She was his wife and therefore, choosing her over Haman was also not truly a miracle.
The Chasam Sofer (Toras Moshe, Purim d.h Vayehi Bimei and in Derashos 5597) directs our attention to what he believes was the most important miracle of the Purim story.
Due to his miscalculation, Achashveirosh mistakenly thought that the time for the Beis HaMikdosh to have been rebuilt had come and gone. He celebrated Klal Yisroel’s continued galus with a lavish party. Shockingly, there were members of the Jewish community of Shushan who participated in the festivities.
This was an egregious offense of such magnitude that it warranted a severe punishment being meted out to the entire nation. As a direct result of their partaking of the feast of Achashveirosh, Klal Yisroel was issued a verdict of annihilation. In punishment for enjoying Achashveirosh’s party, the Jewish nation was to be wiped out. When they subsequently did teshuvah, Hashem rescinded His decree, and they were spared.
Let’s analyse how the salvation of the Jewish people came about. When did Hashem lay the groundwork for a possible deliverance, if the Jews were to repent?
Through the choice of Esther as queen and her imploring her husband to save her people, Hashem orchestrated our redemption. The events that paved the way for her to enter to palace were the planting of the seeds of redemption.
Our salvation was a result of Esther becoming queen, which was a direct outcome of her predecessor, Vashti, being dethroned, at the very party that prompted the horrific gezeirah in the first place! At the precise moment that the Jews of Shushan were sinning, as they enjoyed themselves at Achashveirosh’s feast, Hashem was already setting the stage for the salvation of Klal Yisroel, if they were to do teshuvah!
Hashem’s love for His children, for Am Yisroel, was so strong that while the Jews were incurring His wrath to the point that He would decide to annihilate the entire nation, at the very same time He was already providing a contingency plan for how the Jews could be saved.
Even while we were sinning to the point that we deserved the punishment of להשמיד להרוג ולאבד – “to be entirely wiped out” (Esther 3:13), Hashem’s deeply rooted love for us meant that He was already planning a provision for salvation. He orchestrated events that culminated in Vashti’s execution, providing the perfect opening for Esther to become the next queen. At the very time that we were rebelling against the Ribbono Shel Olam, His focus was on how to save us.
The Chasam Sofer writes, this is the main miracle of Purim. At the time that the most appalling of sins were being committed, Hashem was still demonstrating His love for Klal Yisroel and was planning their yeshuah.
