Esther – Faith in God’s Providence

Prayer: Before the foundation of the world, you knew our name, O, Lord.  Our very bodies were woven together by your hand, according to your design.  You knew us and loved us before time itself began.  You rescued us from our unrighteousness and granted us eternal life before we even were born.  Praise your righteous name; how excellent is your name of God.  Keep us in your will and plan.  In your name, we pray, Amen.

Main Scripture: Read Esther 4:14.

"Do not think that because you are in the king's house, you alone of all the Jews will escape.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Associated Scriptures:

Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. (Esther 2:17-18).

Haman added. "I'm the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. …But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate" (Esther 5:12-13).

Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman."  …The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.  Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.  The king exclaimed, "Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?" (Esther 7:6-8).

Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews (Esther 9:29).

Then the king said, "Hang him on it!"   So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath subsided.” (Esther 7:9-10, NKJV).

Correlative Quotes:

Mordecai reminded Esther that if she did not attempt to avert this terrible calamity she would surely die, even though she was a member of the royal household. Whether Haman's power was great enough to reach to the palace and execute the queen is not stated. Mordecai simply planted the idea in Esther's mind that she would die if she did not act. Therefore death by order of the king for entering into his presence would be no worse than waiting and meeting death at the hands of Haman.[1]  – John Walvoord

Mordecai emphasized a third fact: Her being in the palace was not an accident, for she had "come to royal position for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14, NIV). He didn't say that God had put her there, but that's what his statement amounted to. If Esther would just take the time to review her life, she couldn't help but see that there had been divine leading all the way. Now, if God brought her to the throne, then He had a purpose in mind, and that purpose was now evident: She was there to intercede for her people.[2] – Warren W. Wiersbe

This passage is a key to the basic meaning of the entire book, namely, to demonstrate the unfailing providence of God in behalf of his people Israel. Mordecai's implications were quite clear and his plea was irresistible.[3]

Study:

A wise man once told me, “Providence is more than a city in Rhode Island.”  The providence of God is as amazing as it is unwarranted, unjustifiable, and unearned.  God could simply forget us but instead He chooses to love us.  However, instead of ignoring us, He cheers us on to action.  Active faith is God’s work in and through us (Ephesians 2:10).

Mordecai challenged Esther to be active in her faith.  She took the challenge by offering herself as a sacrifice for her God and her people.  We cannot assume that since God is not mentioned by name in this book, that Esther, Mordecai, and the Jewish nation were not in a close relationship with God.  God’s fingerprints are all over this book.

1. Mordecai’s Testimony: Mordecai challenges Esther with a statement of the providence of God when he says, “…who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” The inference here is that no one could know but God Himself. Providence is not without belief in God, it assumes a power that knows and controls all things.  The definition of providence is “the foreseeing care and guidance of God or nature over the creatures of the earth.[4]  Mordecai’s testimony is one strongly suggests the providence of God.  Being a Jew assumes that he believed in God.  Even though Mordechai doesn’t refer to God in this book, his actions speak louder than his words.
2. Esther’s Testimony: Esther was adopted and raised by Mordecai. If we assume that Mordecai was a believer, she would have a foundation built on the faith of Mordecai. Again, her actions are the key to recognizing her faith.  In answer to Mordecai’s request, Esther responds (Esther 4:16, NKJV), “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"  Who would they be fasting too if not to God.  Fasting has no significance outside of pleasing God and losing weight. 
3. Scripture’s Internal Testimony: The very fact that Esther is a book of the Bible is significant. God would not have chosen to write about a group of people who had no faith in Him and share their story with believers. The internal evidence of the book itself is also compelling.  There are too many critical evidences of God’s hand at work to fall to coincidence. 
4. Esther is chosen from among four hundred women and then made Queen of all Persia.
5. Mordechai was sitting at the gate, which meant that he was conducting some sort of business, when he heard the plot to overthrow the king.
6. Haman’s plot to kill Mordecai and all the Jews was foiled and he was hung on the gallows that were constructed for killing Mordecai.

All of these instances and many more were acts of God’s divine providence. 

Summary Statement:

Esther could best be summed up as an example of the providence of God.  It exemplifies the sovereignty of God.  Esther is at the center of God’s grace.  This account in the history of Israel shows us God’s love and protection for His children.  Even though God is not mentioned in this historical account, His fingerprint is all over it.  He loves His children, those who live a life that honors and glorifies Him (Ephesians 2:4-5).

[1] Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries; Bible Knowledge Commentary, © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.

[2] The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament © 2001-2004 by Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.

[3] The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1962 by Moody Press. All rights reserved.

[4] Providence, Dictionary.com, © 2016 Dictionary.com, LLC, dictionary.com/browse/providence?s=t