Lowkey LegendsNäide

Have you noticed something about the book of Esther? God is not mentioned by name once in the entire book of Esther. As we continue reading this week, you won’t find God mentioned anywhere. Isn’t it strange that a book in the Bible doesn’t mention God? Although God is not mentioned by name, we are challenged to see God’s providence in events that are not an accident. His hand was on the lives of Esther and Mordecai protecting them and giving them favor. While parts of their stories, they may not have chosen for themselves, God allowed the exile, threats to their lives and lives of their people, and all their hardship for a reason. As we read in Esther 4:14, Mordecai suggests to Esther that maybe everything that has led up to this point in their lives has been for a reason. Mordecai suggests that Esther is queen for a reason - to save their people from being killed and destroyed.

We can learn from Esther’s life that God has made you who you are and placed you where you are for a reason. Your life may seem mundane and lackluster, it may even seem messy and confusing right now. Maybe, you’re choosing to live in sin and think God can’t redeem how far you’ve gone or bring you back to Him because of how deep you are in your sin. That is not the truth. No matter what your circumstances are or what your life looks like, it cannot change who God is and does not have the power to alter God’s plan for your life. However, you are commanded to obey and to trust in God and what He is doing. If you think your life is boring and mundane, God uses that. If you think you’re too far gone, God redeems when you repent. If your life is messy, look at the example of Esther. Nothing is too bad, too great, or too boring, etc. to be used by God. Let that hope encourage us to obey Him.

As we continue studying the book of Esther this week, we will see Mordecai and Esther’s plan to save the Jews, Haman’s fate, and redemption brought among God’s people. When Esther was faced with a choice in 4:14, her response was not going to make or break God’s plan but was going to determine whether she would play a part in it or not. How are you playing a part in God’s plan?