Esther 4:14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
While looking through my computer for some material, I came upon a message I gave in 2000 at a conference on church planting. Since the assignment was to speak on God’s sovereignty, I chose to address this subject from the book of Esther. I wish to share some notes from this message with additional thoughts. Esther chapter four is well known and the storyline is the perfect place to address the subject of God’s sovereignty. Of course, the entire book addresses this subject matter so I will ask you to please read and study the book yourself. There, you will see the rich message of God’s sovereignty on display, and encounter people, events, and circumstances used for God’s ultimate providential purposes.
God’s Word speaks to specific situations, problems, and questions in life. Scriptures are timely and timeless. I heard someone say many years ago: “The Scriptures are more up-to-date than your morning newspaper”. Though our situations, difficulties, and questions may not always be directly related to those faced by people in the Bible, they do have practical applications for us today because Scripture is timeless. Just as God spoke to the original audience, He still speaks to us through Scripture. This timeless quality transcends time and culture to address the present milieu with absolute clarity and authority. Therefore, we can read the book of Esther observing how the same providential hand that worked in Esther’s day also works in our day. We can identify contemporary situations, problems, or similar questions. So, as you read, reflect upon your life laid up against this biblical narrative.
Esther is a fascinating book. It tells of God’s preservation and perpetual providential care for His chosen people. Its setting is during the Jewish exile in the Persian empire, a pagan culture that was intensely controlling and powerful. Because everyone was compelled to cooperate or risk harsh punishment, even death, such domination rendered opposition pointless. This is where we find Esther and her guardian Mordecai being used by God to save a people, God’s people, the Jewish nation.
The decisions we make on a daily basis—whether to accept that God is at work in our circumstances or dismiss them as random—are exemplified in the Book of Esther. It is a narrative revealing an extraordinary solution to a crisis, showing God at work though His name is never mentioned. It is an interesting and fascinating ten-chapter journey, a story that draws us into a closer relationship and understanding of our great God and His great people. We are reminded to, “Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3.
The storyline of the book is the drama played out between Mordecai, a faithful steward and family member, who raised Esther, the future queen and chosen vessel of the Lord, and Haman, an enemy of the Jews who was bent on the extermination of the Jewish race. Chapter four describes Mordecai’s response as well as Esther’s reply to Mordecai’s plea eventually leading to an incredible series of events that only God could orchestrate.
The theme of the Book of Esther is the providential care of God for His people. You can see that all people and circumstances are instruments in God’s hand for His express purpose. It is obvious that the providence of God is the hallmark of this book, and Mordecai and Esther are classic examples of how God uses people to literally change the course of history. It is also a classic illustration of God controlling a nation and its leaders, the outcome of evil people, and all unexpected circumstances for His purpose. The preservation of Israel through providential control of every event and person reveals the power and presence of God. We get to stand back and see this providential care played out as we read this powerful book. We get to place ourselves in the narrative and ask questions about our world, the circumstances surrounding us, and how we view God controlling everything in our lives for His purpose. “God never meant the book of Esther to lie dumb, and whatever it seemed good to Him to teach us by it, it ought to be our earnest endeavor to learn”. C.H. Spurgeon
While reading Esther, our thoughts should reflect upon the doctrine of God’s sovereign care for His people and the conviction that the God of the Bible is in full control of the details of daily life, which is essential for complete peace and calmness in every circumstance. Do I mean every circumstance? Yes! I mean everything in life. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that God is God. He is God in the circumstance and controls every circumstance. Play out any scenario and He is sovereign over that situation. God exercises control over every aspect of life to position people, governments, and situations for His purpose— all for His express glory. He is in control over the very best and the very worst of circumstances. Whether it be the beheading of John the Baptist, the stoning of Stephen, the persecution of Paul, the blessings of Abraham, the wonder of our merciful God bringing salvation to the family of Cornelius; whether it be a heartbroken and troubled woman like Mary Magdalene, to numerous biblical examples of God controlling the affairs of people and nations, we must all agree that our God exercises control over every aspect of our lives. This doctrine must permeate our faith, our hearts, and our thinking.
As we look at the book of Esther, we can see several turning points demonstrating God’s providential control over events on which the story and its resolution hinge. Take note of those as you read. Observe where you see God setting the stage for occurrences that led to the deliverance of His people. For emphasis, I will use the phrase, “it just so happened,” an idiomatic expression implying that the event occurred in due course without outside influence. I want to draw out from you the reader, how you may be going through life with too much emphasis on coincidence rather than seeing sovereign intentionality. You may even be questioning whether God is purposefully working in your life. You may believe that your life is mundane, “whatever happens, happens”, without thinking that you are living under God’s sovereign control in all of life’s circumstances, big or small. You may even question God’s sovereign control because you personally think that God would never, or should have never allowed certain circumstances to occur in your life. Reading this book should change this kind of thinking.
Let’s begin by using the idiomatic phrase “it just so happened” as a means of examining the turning points of God’s providence at work.
It just so happened that Mordecai became Esther’s guardian when her parents died.
It just so happened that Queen Vashti refused to appear at the King’s command, causing her to be deposed and a new queen to be chosen.
It just so happened that King Ahasuerus issued an edict requiring all the virgins throughout his domain to be brought to the royal palace and Esther would be among them.
It just so happened that Esther was favored by Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the King’s harem, and helped her win the King’s approval.
It just so happened that Mordecai uncovered a plot against the King, and through Esther, saved the King’s life.
It just so happened that when the King had a restless night, he gave orders to have read to him the book of memorable deeds, which included the incident of how Mordecai revealed a conspiracy against the King but was never recognized or rewarded.
It just so happened that the King took action to rectify this oversight by ordering Haman to parade Mordecai through the streets with the King’s royal robes, upon his royal horse, and in the highest of honors.
It just so happened that when Haman consulted his wife and his wise men to select the ideal time to carry out his plot to destroy the Jews, the lot fell on a date twelve months later, giving Mordecai and Esther time to counter the plot (Esther 3:7).
It just so happened that at the right time, Mordecai urged Esther to act, calling on her to realize that she may have come to her royal position “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
It just so happened that when Esther accused Haman at her second banquet, one of the king’s attendants told of the gallows Haman had built for Mordecai, and the furious King ordered Haman to be hanged on it.
It just so happened that after this, Mordecai and the Jewish people were saved from eradication and Mordecai is elevated to a seat beside the king.
On the basis of the timing of all of these events and the sequential pattern of each turning point, it is possible to discern something about an underlying control of people, events, and situations. None of this narrative or anything that happens in our lives turns out by chance. What we may consider as coincidence is what occurs by God’s providential arrangement of circumstances. God works behind the scenes in ways only known to Him, watching over events and circumstances. God is not anonymous; He is omnipresent in all of life. God is in the circumstances!
God is at work then and He is working in your life now. His sovereign hand is seen throughout this book, demonstrating that God’s purposes will not be foiled. Nothing happens that our God does not know about, permit, allow, and control for His purposes. Esther teaches us many lessons about God’s providential care that we must integrate into our faith. The events from which our lives and the history of nations are woven are not subject merely to coincidence. Nothing is an obstacle to God’s providential plan to reach mankind and to unmask what leaves us exposed to the pressures of life such as fears, heart idols, and an unbalanced focus on earthly relationships. God uses every circumstance to enlighten and lead us through the many paths we walk in life.
Those of us in the body of Christ should demonstrate our faith in God’s complete control of our lives, encouraging others with our understanding of God’s providential care in the milieu of life. As our private time with God and His Word has influenced and shaped our thoughts on God’s sovereignty, we should share these original, spiritual, and insightful thoughts with those around us. Often, we find ourselves listening and borrowing from everyone else when we should prioritize sharing how God has providentially worked in our own lives, sharing how God may permit pain and yet transform unpleasant circumstances into joy and spiritual strength as we rely on Him. Our prayer and dependence on God, as well as our reliance on His leading based on our relationship with Him as His people, will encourage those around us.
Sharing our faith in God’s authority and control, hearing our thoughts about God’s thoughts, and expressing our desire to think in God’s ways are all ways that we should seek to encourage those around us. Believers need to hear our story so that they may gain strength and insight from our experience of walking with God. People need to hear firsthand of our own spiritual life experiences, how we draw from our spiritual capital of trusting in God’s providence, demonstrating how we also have stood “strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). It is equally important for nonbelievers whose lives are full of doubt, fear, and uncertainty, to hear our story so that they may run to God for salvation and turn control of their lives over to Him.
If you do not think it is possible to be so bold to share your faith, then this summary has unmasked something good. It has awakened you to your need to glean from your relationship with God and to share it with others. This is all very good! In the situation that Mordecai found himself in, it is important to remember that he was willing to stand up for God and His people regardless of who else was in his way or what else was in his way. Being confident in sharing your faith with others is important. You should make it a habit to share your faith independently, as it will build the confidence and boldness to stand alone for Christ, no matter what others may do. Standing with others is not a drawback; however, the issue lies in our tendency to rely too heavily on others when we truly should be drawing from our own spiritual life with the Lord.
These times, like the time of Esther’s challenge to wake up, should challenge us to stop surfing the internet and articles for someone else’s answers, spiritual advice, and direction. It should challenge you to dive into God’s Word personally, to reflect on the shaping influences of your own beliefs and relationship with the Lord, and to determine whether you are spiritually lazy or rely too much on the views and insights of other people. It’s easy to cut and paste, but it takes time and effort to have original ideas drawn from your relationship with the Lord. The issue lies not in gleaning with others, but rather in not analyzing our situation in light of our insights from God’s Word and our spiritual journey with Him. It may be that you are not developing a personal relationship with the Lord as you should, which is why you are too reliant on other people. You need a Mordecai; we all need a Mordecai to cause us to think about our relationship with God and our responsibility to act upon that relationship.
Esther needed Mordecai to challenge, encourage, and engage her with the need, but ultimately, she had to make a personal decision and act upon it herself (Esther 4:12-14). She finally decided to reveal her faith in the God she knew (Esther 4:15-17). Something she had to do on her own.
While Mordecai was providentially used to remind Esther of her duties and responsibilities before God, Esther herself had to draw from her personal belief in God and His sovereignty. Esther had to wake up and be reminded of the providence of God and His sovereign plan for His people. Though at first, she was hesitant to act, Mordecai urged Esther that she could not remain insulated from this decree any more than anyone else. Mordecai acted in faith and courage to prevent the massacre of his people as well as put his faith in God on full display. Mordecai knew that no one person was indispensable. God could raise someone else to deliver His people if Esther wouldn’t. “If you remain completely silent, deliverance will arise from another place.” Mordecai’s trust was in the faithfulness of God, in His relationship with God not in the faithfulness of Esther. He knew that God would not let His people down even if individuals let God down. Her reply is courageous and bold, “Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Once she understood the message, she went into action. That is what God’s people do. They respond to a challenge or crisis with faith and determination to trust in God’s plan and God’s purposes. God used Mordecai as a catalyst in her life to press her into action, it was his faith and determination that set the stage for her astounding declaration.
Instead of “cutting and pasting,” Mordecai drew on his own spiritual vigor, which he personally cultivated in his relationship with God, to help Esther grow and deepen her faith in God. He didn’t have to borrow someone else’s thoughts or opinions; his thoughts were fresh and original and spoke directly to the person closest to him. That is what our personal faith does, it reflects upon people who know us in a way that an unknown person but a familiar named person cannot do. It is of first and most importance before we start “cutting and pasting” from everyone else. Mordecai spoke in faith by saying to Esther, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” When she finally understood, she had the courage and wisdom to see that reason and walk in it.
Esther was promoted by God for a purpose. God places us where we are for a reason, and we must have the fortitude and discernment to follow that reason. Please take time to think about this. You are where you are for a reason. Your life is not an unrecognizable smudge on the wall but a bold declaration written upon the hearts of those you live with and are in contact with on a daily basis. It will become evident that God has placed you in the right place and position for the right reasons, even if you don’t fully comprehend what is happening now. Believe and be confident like Esther that God is working in your life although you might not have realized it. He may be waking you up to this fact now. You are having and should expect to have an impact on the world you live in.
Why do I say that? Because I believe as you should, that my life is more than an aimless journey, God is in my life, God is in control of my life. Our life is an instrument for His Glory, in some way, somewhere, somehow, God is using us. You must believe this is true! God doesn’t just show up, He is always present and always working, actively using your life to demonstrate His love and grace through your words, deeds, attitudes, and faith. You must believe this is true! Mordecai thoroughly believed he was ordained as God’s instrument during this time. He did not want to miss the opportunity because of the serious nature of the circumstances. Esther finally did see what Mordecai saw and responded in faith. So should we! You must be proactive in your response to life’s challenges no matter what they are, even if they are not as serious as Mordecai’s and Esther’s. You can either be a person who watches what happens, wonders what happened, or makes things happen. The choice is up to you. Hopefully, you will be a responder to the circumstances that God places you in and make things happen for His ultimate glory.
While people can fail, God’s covenant vows are unbreakable. His promises are true, they are dependable. In God’s providence, often there is a wise design that is unknown to us until it is accomplished. (Esther 8:15-17) Complete despair can lead to happiness, praise, advancement, and joy when we place our trust in God’s providence. When we are put to the test, the test itself may serve as a catalyst for us to recognize the need for spiritual growth and maturity. It can and will shed light on our theology, its practical outworking, and the Kingdom view we must have in our lives. (Matthew 6:33) It will reveal the spiritual condition of our hearts and whether we are “cutting and pasting” by depending on others, or seeking and following God alone, in harmony with our personal relationship with Him.
How are you responding spiritually, theologically, and practically during times of testing? How are you being used during this time? How do you plan on being used during this time? What have you learned about yourself, your spirituality, your theology, your worldview, and your understanding of the providence of God? Please take time to consider how you fit into “such a time as this”. Dive into the book of Esther and grow in your understanding of God’s providential control and care of your life today.