The Book of Esther: The Visible Acts of the Invisible God - A Study in the Providence of God
Synopsis "The Book of Esther: The Visible Acts of the Invisible God - A Study in the Providence of God"
In the Book of Esther, God is like a mighty wind. He is never mentioned by name in any verse. The words, "God," "Lord," or "Jehovah" are never seen, but His impact is felt in every chapter. God is invisible, but His actions are not - they are clearly seen. The main character in the Book of Esther is not Mordecai, Haman, Esther or the king. Dr. Terry Muck wrote, "Read correctly, the lead character of the book of Esther is not even Esther, but God." Pastor Ray Stedman reminds us, "As you read through the book of Esther, you will see that God is not absent. Invisible, yes; absent, no. His actions are on every page and in every line. Just beneath the surface of the story is another story. It's the story of how God works behind the scenes of our lives to accomplish His purposes." Chuck Swindoll says, "He's absolutely invisible. Yet He is at work!" In Chapter 1, the Lord removed Vashti as queen. In Chapter 2, the Lord made sure that a Jewish orphan was selected as queen of the greatest empire at that time. God's favor allowed Esther to be picked from among thousands of beautiful women. God made sure that the king forgot to honor Mordecai for thwarting an assassination plot for a more opportune time. In Chapter 3, God made sure that the "lot" landed to give the Jews eleven months to prepare their defense. In Chapter 4, God gave Esther and Mordecai a go-between so that her Jewish identity could be kept secret. In Chapter 5, the Lord gave Esther favor before the king even though he had not seen her in thirty days. God arranged for Haman to build a gallows to hang Mordecai on the day before the king was to honor him. In Chapter 6, God made sure that the king had a sleepless night, and when his servants went to get some reading material, these servants picked Mordecai's heroic deed from among thousands of records. The Lord insured that there was perfect timing between Haman wanting Mordecai dead and the king wanting Mordecai honored. In Chapter 7, God placed Harbonah right next to the king so he could tell the king where to hang Haman. In Chapter 8, the Lord gave both Esther and Mordecai favor before the king so he could tell them to write a decree that would counter Haman's decree. In Chapter 9, the very day that Haman picked for the annihilation of the Jews turned into a Jewish celebration called "Purim." What was meant for evil, God turned around for good. In Chapter 10, God took a Jewish exile and placed him as second in command over the Persian Empire. God is good! Commentator Mervin Breneman is surely correct: "There is only one conclusion that can be reached when the book is read: God was behind it all." The Book of Esther has been a favorite of Jews and Christians for centuries. May the Lord give you insight, revelation, and wisdom as you study this powerful book. Like Moses when he forsook Egypt, may you "see Him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27). May you see the glory of God in Esther.
