The Providence of God # 1

Book of Esther 

As we study the Providence of God, we will be using the Old Testament Book of Esther which describes Haman’s wicked plot to kill all the Jews in Persia and how God saved them 

Read Esther 1: 1

In this new Series we will not only discover the Book of Esther’s relevance to current events in Israel and the Middle East but also its relevance and application to our lives today 

But before we go any further, we need to define the Providence of God - Possibly the best definition comes from the Westminster Confession of Faith which was written by the great patriarchs of the English Church between 1643-1648  

R.C Sproul the great theologian and professor of the Westminster Confession of Faith said this, ‘the Westminster Confession of Faith is the most precise and accurate summary of the content of Biblical Doctrine’   

In Chapter Three - Article One of the Westminster Confession of Faith, it describes the Providence of God like this: "God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass."

Let me draw your attention to the last phrase of the Article that says: ‘God...ordain(s) whatsoever comes to pass’ 

What does it mean that God ‘ordain(s) whatsoever comes to pass’? - in modern 21st Century language it means God predetermines everything that happens. 

God predetermines everything that happens for His purposes and His glory and says, Isaiah 46: 10b ‘Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.’ for the purpose of, Isaiah 46: 13 ‘show(ing) My glory’ 

Psalm 103: 19; Psalm 135: 6; Daniel 4: 35; Ephesians 1: 11b 

Job 41: 11 MESSAGE PARAPHRASE; Proverbs 16: 3; Colossians 1: 17; Hebrews 1: 3 

The Apostle Paul described the Providence of God like this, Romans 11: 36a ‘Everything comes from Him and (everything) exists by His power and (everything) is intended for His glory.’ 

And like this, Romans 8: 28 ‘we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.’  

Here’s a Summary of the Book of Esther:  

• The Book of Esther is the record of the exiled Jewish Community that lived in ancient Persia during the reign of King Xerxes.  

• Haddasah who is better known to us as Esther was a Jewish exile selected by Xerxes to replace Vashti as his queen after Vashti defied the king and was fired!  

• Later, Esther’s cousin and father figure Mordecai obtained a place of prominence in Xerxes Court where he proved his loyalty by stopping a plot against the king’s life.  

• Then a conflict developed between Mordecai and an advisor to the king called Haman who subsequently asked Xerxes to have Mordecai and all the Jews in Persia executed.  

• To obtain deliverance for the Jews Mordecai urged Esther to appeal to the king on behalf of the Jewish Community.  

• King Xerxes was favorable to Esther’s request which led to the execution of Haman and his sons.  

• Xerxes also decreed that the Jewish Community could take pre-emptive action against all those in Persia who intended harm to the Jews. 

• At the same time many Persian citizens declared themselves to be Jewish. 

• Then the Festival of Purim was instituted to commemorate the Providence of God and finally Mordecai was promoted to a place of authority in the Persian Empire second only to king Xerxes 

The Book of Esther has a distinguishing feature that some Bible scholars believe should exclude it from the Old Testament 

Q. Do you know what it is? 

A. Throughout the Book of Esther there is NO mention of God’s name anywhere! 

Furthermore, there is NO mention of any devotion to God by the Jews in reference to observing Jewish holy days, sacrifices or prayer EXCEPT one reference to fasting and that was when Esther was preparing herself to ask the king to spare the Jewish Community from Haman’s wicked plot to exterminate all the Jews in Persia, Esther said to Mordecai, Esther 4: 16 ‘Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” 

Although there is NO mention of God’s name anywhere in the Book of Esther there is overwhelming evidence of the Providence of God everywhere in the Book of Esther! 

Do you remember last year in one of my Main Messages I was giving an illustration about how certain numbers indicate the Providence of God in our lives (Numerology) and how the # 7 is often called ‘God’s number’!? 

Throughout the Book of Esther, we see the # 7 indicating the Providence of God at work:  

Firstly, we see the Providence of God at work in the Persian Empire and learn that God ordains the rise and fall of nations 

The Persian Empire was made up of 127 provinces 

Esther 1: 1; Esther 8: 9; Esther 9: 30 

Daniel 2: 21a ‘He controls the course of world events; He removes kings and sets up other kings.’ 

Acts 17: 26b ‘He created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and He determined their boundaries.’ 

Next, we see the Providence of God at work in King Xerxes and learn that God ordains the decisions and actions of kings 

Xerxes hosted a banquet to honor the people of Susa that lasted for 7 days 

Esther 1: 5 READ 

Xerxes was served by 7 eunuchs and was advised by 7 nobles 

Esther 1: 10; Esther 1: 14 

Proverbs 21: 1 ‘The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; He guides it wherever he pleases.’                                                                                            

Next, we see the Providence of God at work in Queen Vashti and learn that God ordains the direction of our lives                                                                                                   

Vashti was summoned by Xerxes on the 7th day of the banquet but refused to come and was deposed as King Xerxes Queen                                                                            

Esther 1: 10-12                                                                                                      

Proverbs 16: 9 ‘We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.’    Psalm 139: 16; Genesis 2: 17; 1 Samuel 1: 27; Job 1: 21; Psalm 102: 23; Psalm 104: 27-30; Ezekiel 24: 16;

Daniel 5: 23b                                                                                   

Next, we see the Providence of God at work in Mordecai and learn that God ordains that His purposes will prevail over evil  

Haman the enemy of the Jews built a 75-foot-high stake to impale Mordecai by way of execution, but later Mordecai became the Prime Minister of Persia ‘with the authority next to that of King Xerxes himself’                                                           

Esther 5: 14; Esther 10: 3                                                                                               

Genesis 50: 20 ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.’                                    

Next, we see the Providence of God at work in Hadassah and learn that God ordains our ministry                                                                                                                    

Esther was given 7 maids and was taken to Xerxes in the 7th year of his reign as king                                                                                                                                       

Esther 2: 9; Esther 2: 16                                                                                             

Ephesians 2: 10 ‘God creates each of us by Jesus Christ to join Him in the work He does that He planned for us long ago’ MESSAGE PARAPHRASE & NLT Combo                                

Next, we see the Providence of God at work in Haman and learn that God ordains the destiny of the unbeliever                                                                                                                      

Haman was executed on the 75-foot-high stake that he set up to kill Mordecai

Esther 7: 9                                                                                                                   

Romans 9: 22b ‘destined for destruction’                                                                       

Romans 9: 16, 18; Psalm 145: 20                                                                                        

Next, we see the Providence of God at work in the exiled Jewish Community and learn that God has ordained His choice of Israel  

Haman secured a decree from King Xerxes (Jewish tradition 17th April) to destroy the Jews who were living in the Persian Empire and caste lots to determine the day that he would execute his plan with the day selected being the 7th March the following year 

Esther 3: 7; Esther 8: 12                                                                                                    

But King Xerxes reversed Haman’s plot and decreed the Jews could make a pre-emptive strike against all their enemies on the 7th March the following year                                                                                                                                       

Esther 9: 1                                                                                                                               

Deuteronomy 7:6-8a ‘For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be His own special treasure. The Lord did not set His heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and He was keeping the oath He had sworn to your ancestors.’ (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) 

Finally, we see the Providence of God at work in the Persian people and learn that God ordains the salvation of believing Gentiles.

In fear of the Jews many Persians turned to the Lord.

Read Esther 8: 17                                                                                                                      

And on that terrible day of judgement 75, 000 enemies of Israel were killed by the Jews                                                                                                                            

Read Esther 9: 16 

Concerning the believer Moses said, Deuteronomy 30: 6 ‘The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love Him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!’ 

John 6: 44; Malachi 1: 2-3a; John 1: 12-13 NKJV; John 10: 27-30; Acts 13: 48b;  

2 Timothy 1: 9; Romans 8: 29-30 

As we finish this introductory Message today, let me remind you that there is NO mention of God’s name anywhere in the Book of Esther but there is overwhelming evidence of the Providence of God everywhere in the Book of Esther!  

The very first verse in the Book of Esther gives us an introduction to the Providence of God - Esther 1: 1 ‘these events’ perfectly describe the Providence of God!