“Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her…the king loved Esther and she won favor in his sight…he set the royal crown on her head.” – Esther 2:15-17
“And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14
“Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:7, 8
“But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father is always at His work to this very day and I, too, am working‘.” – John 5:17
Today we look at one of the most unique chapters (Books) in our story…the story of Esther. It is a story that movies are made of. It has all the elements of a box office smash. A powerful king…a queen rising from the ashes…an sinister bad guy…twists and turns…a dramatic ending where good triumphs and the people are saved! Yes, Esther has it all…except one thing…no mention of God. What? That’s right.
What is interesting is that as we read this story and we are amazed at how God is orchestrating the events within it. When we read the circumstances of Esther’s rise to the throne and we see God’s fingerprints all over it. Even her cousin, Mordecai, whose words we read in today’s Scripture, recognizes that there is a purpose behind the things that are happening. There is a Master Designer over it all.
The truth is that one cannot read the story of Esther and not see God and, yet…He is not mentioned. Why? I believe that at this point in our story, God (the Author of our story) has established the Truth that He is always present and working in His world that He created. Jesus said in the Gospel of John that His Father was always at work. He did not bring this world into existence and walk away from it. Even when we walked away from Him, He has still remained active in pursuing us.
Jesus used a great illustration of this idea when He was talking to Nicodemus in John 3. He compared the work of God in a person’s life to the wind blowing. Wind is a powerful thing in our world and there is no argument about that. We see its effects all around us. In tornadoes and hurricanes, we see devastating destruction. We feel its presence in a spring breeze on our cheek. We can hear it blowing through an open window. And, yet, we have never seen wind. We know it is there because we see the results that it brings and, although it is “unseen” we know when it is there and when it is not.
Could it be that the Book of Esther is a “pop quiz” for us? The Lord may be saying, “Read this story. What do you see? Do you see the trees moving? Do you hear that sound? What do you think?”
“It’s wind! I know! I know! It’s wind!”
Friend, today let me assure you that God is not only present in this world but He is also working all around you. Just like in the Book of Esther He is orchestrating circumstances and calling us…inviting us to join Him in His work. Make no mistake about it…God has brought you into this world and He is intent on bringing you through it. No, there probably won’t be a big neon lit sign or a burning bush, but I guarantee that, like the Book of Esther, if you look, you will see the evidence of His presence today. And, when you do, consider that an invitation to jump in and be a part!
After all…this is your story!