Though not mentioned by name the providence of God is evident throughout the book of Esther. Vashti, the queen, was removed from her position when she stood up for what was right. Though she was no longer queen, God used the vacancy to bring Esther into a place where she could be a positive influence for the future of her people, Israel.
Esther was an orphan girl raised by her cousin Mordecai. She rose from obscurity to a place of prominence when she was chosen to be the next queen to King Ahasuerus (or Xerxes), the Persian monarch. Following the guidance of Mordecai she fulfilled the role she was chosen to lead and kept her ethnicity secret. The king did not suspect that she was a Jew.
When Haman plotted to destroy the Jews and convinced the King to sign the order, Mordecai sent word to Esther to intercede even at the risk of her own life. His appeal was straightforward and his logic reflected his confidence in the providence of God, “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (4:14).
Esther was not a Joan of Arc charging into battle, but she fulfilled her purpose in her own way. She used her gift of hospitality and invited the king and Haman to dinner. After the second invitation Esther had the opportunity to reveal her ethnicity and expose the wicked plot of Haman to exact genocide on her people. The King ordered Haman to be executed on the gallows he had constructed for Mordecai. The Jews were permitted to defend themselves on the day they were to have been destroyed.
God is already in the future and has a plan for your life beyond what you can see and know. God has the solution for whatever difficulties life may bring. (See Romans 8:28.) Stay faithful to God and see His plan unfold in your life.
Esther was an orphan girl raised by her cousin Mordecai. She rose from obscurity to a place of prominence when she was chosen to be the next queen to King Ahasuerus (or Xerxes), the Persian monarch. Following the guidance of Mordecai she fulfilled the role she was chosen to lead and kept her ethnicity secret. The king did not suspect that she was a Jew.
When Haman plotted to destroy the Jews and convinced the King to sign the order, Mordecai sent word to Esther to intercede even at the risk of her own life. His appeal was straightforward and his logic reflected his confidence in the providence of God, “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (4:14).
Esther was not a Joan of Arc charging into battle, but she fulfilled her purpose in her own way. She used her gift of hospitality and invited the king and Haman to dinner. After the second invitation Esther had the opportunity to reveal her ethnicity and expose the wicked plot of Haman to exact genocide on her people. The King ordered Haman to be executed on the gallows he had constructed for Mordecai. The Jews were permitted to defend themselves on the day they were to have been destroyed.
God is already in the future and has a plan for your life beyond what you can see and know. God has the solution for whatever difficulties life may bring. (See Romans 8:28.) Stay faithful to God and see His plan unfold in your life.
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