Day 258, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Ezra 4:6; Esther 1-4
What’s God Doing?
A reliable and faithful employee gets fired, a person becomes disabled so that he can no longer work, a house burns down, or a kind-hearted person dies young. There are times when life doesn’t make sense. Christians look to God and ask, “What are you doing?”
What do we do when God’s ways don’t make sense? This is what the exiled Jews in Esther’s day must have wondered when some unexplainable events hit them hard.
Know that God is working behind the scenes
At the time of Esther, the Persian King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) is the ruler of the entire known world, from India to Egypt. Most of the Jews are either exiled in Babylon or scattered in various places throughout the Persian Empire. However, 49,000 Jews returned to their homeland and their capital city, Jerusalem.
Solomon’s temple has been rebuilt, but as yet, Jerusalem is an unwalled city protected only by God. Of the Jews who have not returned, some dwell in the citadel (fortress) of Susa, in Babylon. This is where Mordecai and Esther live.
At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present. For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king's palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest, who were in the citadel of Susa. (Esther 1:2-5, NIV)
A strange turn of events
At the end of the week, King Xerxes, in his drunken state, wants to show off the beauty of his wife, Queen Vashti. She refuses, however, to be put on display before the inebriated court.
This is quite embarrassing, so the king consults with his most trusted advisors. They suggest that he remove Queen Vashti. This will serve as an example to all women not to rebel against their husbands. The king removes her, but when he sobers up, he realizes he has no queen.
To remedy the situation, his counselors advise him to hold a beauty contest. Whichever maiden pleases the king can be the next queen. King Xerxes authorizes it, and through a process of providential events, Esther is chosen. Esther is a beautiful young woman, and her beauty is natural.
Mordecai is Esther’s cousin, and he looks after her welfare. She is like a daughter to him because he raised her after her parents died. Mordecai’s great-grandfather, Kish, was one of the original exiles from Jerusalem in the days of Jehoiachin, king of Judah (597 B.C., Esther 2:6-7). Mordecai and Esther were apparently born in Babylon because he was given a Babylonian name taken from the god, Marduk, and she was given a Persian name, meaning “star.” He counsels Esther not to reveal her Jewish nationality because that might work to her disadvantage as queen.
Perhaps, because Mordecai thought he could help his people by serving in the empire’s judicial system, he did not return to the land of Israel. Instead, he served in the gate, which is similar to the city square, a place where business is transacted (Esther 2:5, 21-22). Even if Mordecai was disobedient about returning to Jerusalem, he is, in other ways, devout.
When Haman, the king’s chief nobleman, is promoted and honored above all others, Mordecai refuses to pay him homage. He will not bow to anyone except the LORD God of Israel. This enrages Haman! He determines not only to have Mordecai killed but also all the Jews. He explains to the king that the Jews are a menace to his kingdom, so the king signs Haman’s order to have them eliminated. This is genocide.
A distressful edict
As the order is read in all the provinces, there is great confusion and grief. What are they to do? What is God doing? In Mordecai’s distress, he puts on sackcloth and throws ashes on himself (more…).When Esther finds out about Mordecai, she is very disturbed and sends him clothing, but he refuses to wear them. She then sends a messenger to find out what is wrong. Mordecai sends a copy of the proclamation to her and tells her the consequences of it. He asks her to make a special appeal to the king.
The Response
Esther doesn’t know what to do. She sends a message to Mordecai that she has not seen the king for a month, and to see him without being invited could mean her death.
Mordecai responds,
“Do not imagine that you in the king's palace can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14, NIV)
Mordecai was saying that in God’s providence, he may have placed Esther as queen to save the Jewish people from destruction.
Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:15-16, NIV).
The outcome of Esther’s decision was by no means sure to turn out well. If we stand up and try to help, the same may be true of us.
So, what is God doing? Sometimes, we never find out the answer. We will have to ask him one day when we meet him. At other times, the answer comes later, as we shall soon see.
Esther responds with faith, even though she doesn’t know what will happen to her. How should we respond? Let’s pray, be patient, and trust the LORD’s sovereign care and protection. And, if God leads us to do something, let’s act in faith. We may be the one the LORD calls “for such a time as this.”
End Note: The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the O.T., by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, p.703.
Discussion
What should we say to someone that says, What’s God doing—it doesn’t make sense?
Sometimes things get worse before they get better. Is God still working? Yes, No? Explain
How should we respond when we don’t know what God is doing?
Focus Verse
Psalm 73:28 “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds,” (NIV)
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me, Rod (the author)
Looking Ahead: What will happen to Esther? Will the Jews perish? Find out in our Next Lesson, From Distress to Delight. God can work in our lives in similar ways. Join us!
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