Divine%20Providence

1
Divine Providence

• The book of Esther is a good example of providence

2
Background

• Ahasuerus was the king of Persia
• It was a time of great peril for Israel.
• The book of Esther shows God's providence at
  work.
• The book of Esther does not mention God - but God
  is seen throughout the book.

3
Background

• Providence The preservation, care and governmet
  which God exercises over all things that He
  created, in order to accomplish the ends for
  which they were created.
• Providence does not employ miracles.
• God uses natural means to do His work.
• You might think - accident, coincidence but they
  may be providence.

4
The Story of Esther

• Ahasuerus throws a wild and expensive party that
  lasts 104 days (11-8)
• Drunk, calls for wife, Vashti
• Wants her to parade in front of the drunks at the
  party
• She refused - king become angry
• Removes her as his queen

5
The Story of Esther

• He misses the company of a woman and begins the
  search for a new queen (21-15)
• Many young girls appear before him
• Esther catches his eye
• Esther is made queen instead of Vashti

6
The Story of Esther

• Mordecai uncovers a plot to kill the king
  (219-23)
• Mordecai is Esther's uncle
• He saves the king from assasination
• The deed is recorded in the chronicle of the king

7
The Story of Esther

• Haman is promoted (31-2)
• All are to reverence Haman
• Mordecai refuses to pay reference
• Haman decides that he hates ALL Jews
• He judges a nation becuse of one man
• This is the definition of prejudice

8
The Story of Esther

• Haman goes to the king to get revenge
• Esther 38-9
• He tells a lie
• A law is established by the king that could not
  be reversed
• The exterminiation of the Jews is decreed
  (312-15)

9
The Story of Esther

• There is great mourning among the Jews (41-3)
• What would extermination mean?
• All the promises to Abraham would fail
• All the prophesies about Christ would fail

10
The Story of Esther

• Mordecai asks Esther to intercede (48)
• She gives a excuse (311)
• Esther 313-14
• Esther agrees to intercede - "If I perish, I
  perish."

11
The Story of Esther

• Esther petitions the king (51-8)
• She is granted a hearing
• She invites the king and Haman to a banquet
• At that dinner she announces another dinner for
  Haman and the king
• Haman is on cloud 9 - he is special
• He brags to friends (513)

12
The Story of Esther

• King is unable to sleep (61)
• He is reading the chronicles and sees where
  Mordecai saved his life
• Has he been honored for this deed?
• Haman comes in
• Total humiliation - Haman must plan to honor
  Mordecai
• Then the summons to the second banquet

13
The Story of Esther

• Esther reveals the plot of Haman (71-10)
• King asks what her request is
• Esther 73-6
• Esther 79-10

14
The Story of Esther

• The law could not be reversed, BUT
• Esther and Mordecai were given power to make a
  counter decree
• The Jews are given the authority to resist their
  enemies
• The Jewish nation is saved!

15
Observations

• We can not physically see God or any miracles -
  but His hand is stretched out in providence.
• God's working of providence in this book
• Vashti had integrety
• Vashti refused to parade at the party
• Esther was in the right place, right time
• Mordecai saves king's life
• King could not sleep, read chronicles

16
Observations

• Did God have anything to do with this?
• I believe He did.
• Providence is most often seen in the rear view
  mirror not before it happens or as it is
  happening
• Man's part of providence
• Faith that God is active in our lives
• Willing to obey God

17
Conclusion

• God is still working in our lives.
• Will you believe it?
• Will you act in harmony with it?
• Will you follow the Lord in obedience to His word?