Esther and the Providence of God

By Jeff Arnette
    The providence of God is seen throughout the entire Bible. Even though God is not named in Esther, His providence is seen. A prime example is the Lord at work to save the people of Israel through a clear timeline of events.    The story begins with Nebuchadnezzar taking Judah into captivity. This allowed for the positioning of Mordecai (Jeremiah 25:11). We see the Lord placing Mordecai exactly where he needed to be to accomplish His will. As time progressed, Mordecai’s continued presence in Babylon under the reign of three successive kings—Cyrus, Darius, and Ahasuerus—further illustrated God’s active role (Ezra 1:1-4). Mordecai remained in the precise location necessary to fulfill God’s purpose for His people, as highlighted in Romans 9:11, which speaks to God’s sovereign choice and purpose.    God’s providence is also evident in His work through Mordecai’s cousin, Esther, whom he raised as his daughter (Esther 2:7). Esther found favor with the king’s steward, Hegai (Esther 2:9), and later with the king himself, who loved her and made her queen (Esther 2:17). This favorable positioning was crucial, especially since Haman, unaware of Esther’s Jewish identity, devised a plan against the Jews (Esther 3:5-6). God’s foresight and planning, long before the events unfolded (Romans 8:28) which assures us that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.    Finally, Mordecai’s challenge to Esther to save the Jews emphasizes the Lord’s involvement, encapsulated in the phrase “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Just as God orchestrated the events in Esther’s life, He often works in our lives long before we recognize the need. This is a reminder of God’s timeless involvement in human affairs and His precise timing (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Trusting in His timing and His ability to place us exactly where we need to be when we need to be there is essential, as supported by Hebrews 2:4, which speaks of God bearing witness through signs, wonders, and various miracles.    Throughout the story of Esther, we see God’s providence and His unwavering commitment to His people. Esther’s story is a testament to how God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways to accomplish His divine plans. It serves as an encouragement to trust in God’s timing and His purposeful placement of us in various situations for the fulfillment of His will.

- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/