Everyone knows that the Purim story is supposed to be fun and celebratory. We shake the graggers, say certain pesukim in unison, and sing afterwards. The Megilah even has a fun tune when it is being read. Purim is supposed to be a time of happiness and simcha. This week as we have been learning the historical background of Esther, I realized that although what happened in the Purim story is there to bring happiness and joy to the Jewish people , maybe there was a reason the story took place. 

This week we learned that the Purim story took place after the second Beit Hamikdash had already been built and the Jewish people were allowed to be in Yerushaliam. So..

What are the Jewish people doing in Shushan?????

Maybe the Purim story was a wake-up call for the people who remained in Persia instead of returning to Yerushaliam. Before the Purim story, there were a few Naviim that told the Jewish people that they could return to Yerushaliam and Hashem would then return to them. If the people were still in Shushan, they clearly did not have enough motivation to push them to Yerushaliam. Maybe the scare of Haman destroying the people was done to give the Jews a reason to leave Persia and go to a place where they would not face persectution, Yerushaliam. Maybe Hashem's name is not mentioned, because instead of Him telling the people they should go back and He would return to them, he was hiding his face from them and not helping them so they would be scared and want to return to Yerushaliam.