The Book of Esther
“If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 NLT
The more time passes, the more I start to notice how God is guiding my steps. There are more instances of the Holy Spirit prompting me that God is with me. Which is why I love the book of Esther; it is my favorite book in the Bible.
We know the story. Ten chapters of how God, even though His name is not mentioned in the book, directs the narrative to save the Jewish people from destruction.
Here is an outline of the Book of Esther
I. Danger to the Jews (I:1-5:14)
a.Demotion of Vashti (I: 1-22)
b.Destiny of Esther (2:1-23)
c.Decree Against the Jews (3:1-15)
d.Decision of Esther (4:1-5:14)
II. Deliverance of the Jews (6:1-10:3)
a.Valor of Mordecai Rewarded (6:1-14)
b.Venture of Esther (7:1-10)
c.Victory of the Jews (8:1-9:32)
d.Vindication of Mordecai (10:1 -3)
(Illustrated Bible Survey)
What we know about God is that He controls and knows everything. Simply because he is God. “Divine sovereignty means that God is God in fact, as well as in name, that he is on the Throne of the universe directing all things, working all things “after the counsel of his own will” (Eph 1:11)” (Pink, 1975)
From the dethroning of Queen Vashti, Esther becoming queen, Mordecai saving the king’s life, or the king not being able to sleep one night, God orchestrates each situation.
God works on His timing.
“..God isn’t in a hurry but will fulfill His plans in due time. God waited until the third year of the king’s reign before taking Vashti off the throne. Then he waited another four years (Es. 2:16) before putting Esther on the throne. It was not until the king’s twelfth year (3:7) that God allowed Haman to hatch his evil plot, and He decreed that the “crisis day” for the Jews would be almost a year away.” (Wiersbe)
When we see our lives in the providential and sovereign hands of an all-powerful God, our anxiety may not last long. When I reflect on situations in my life, I look to see how God allows them to play out in a certain way. Even when bad things happen, like Esther being taken to the king’s palace. God has a plan to place her there as queen. I am sure Esther never, in her wildest dreams, thought she should be queen. Yet she was in place there to save a people, her people, from being killed.
God has not changed when working in our lives. He can take the worst situations to lead us to a place He has for us. Something greater and better.
References
Illustrated Bible Survey: An Introduction by ED Hindson and Elmer L. Towns
Arthur, P (1975). The Attributes of God
The Bible Exposition Commentary Old Testament: History Joshua – Esther by Warren W. Wiersbe
