God's Providential Fingerprints - Part 1

I'm not sure if you're aware of this or not, but the book of Esther possesses at least one unique characteristic when compared with all the other books of the Bible.

What is it? Esther is the only book of the Bible which doesn't explicitly mention God one single time. However, it's been well-said that even though God's name isn't mentioned once in the entire book of Esther, His fingerprints are on every page!

If the book of Esther illustrates anything about God, it definitely shows His providential power and sovereignty over and over. What do the words "providence" and "sovereignty" mean? These words refer to God's power to accomplish His will through any and all circumstances. In times of pleasure and pain, God is at work. He's fulfilling His perfect purposes through both ideal and imperfect life situations.

This is precisely what we find in Esther 1-3. In these three opening chapters, we see God's providential fingerprints etched in the twists and turns of this story although we don't read an explicit mention of God's name once. Here are just some His fingerprint markings...

1. Violating a king's command and unleashing his fury (Esther 1)

As king Ahasuerus and his subjects (both great and small) are engaging in an elaborate and lengthy celebration, queen Vashti is summoned to appear before the king so that he can parade her beauty before his people and officials. But Vashti resists the king's order, and he is infuriated.

Of course, we might not view this whole situation as "ideal" at all. From the king's party to his desire in his drunken state to parade Vashti's beauty to others to Esther's violation of the king's order, we might generally conclude that all of this is a recipe for trouble.

But God is at work. Through these events, we can see His providential fingerprints. He's working even through these circumstances to place a new Persian queen in position in order to save His people from an approaching attempt of genocide.

2. Showing favor to a young girl and being in a royal position (Esther 2)

As a search begins and moves throughout all of Persia to find a new queen, a different tone surfaces in the book of Esther. There's anticipation and excitment in the air! Everyone (including us the readers) are asking, "Who's she going to be?" And three times in Esther 2, we encounter the statement that Esther found favor in the eyes of others. For instance, Esther gained favor in the eyes of Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the king's harem, who then saw to it that Esther received the best possible treatment and preparation (see Esther 2:8-9). Also, Esther gained favor in the eyes of "everyone who saw her" (Esther 2:15b, NIV). Lastly, Esther gained favor in the eyes of the king which resulted in her receiving the royal crown and taking Vashti's place as queen of Persia (see Esther 2:17).

Of course, we might view this series of circumstances in a much more positive light in general from the events of chapter 1. Here we basically see a "rags to riches" story unfold right before our eyes!

And God is at work. Through these events, we can see His providential fingerprints. All we need to do is ask ourselves: Who is giving Esther all this favor in these progressive steps? She first receives favor from a single official, then everyone who sees her, and ultimately from the king who places a crown on her head and names her his queen. Just as God worked through the troubling times of chapter 1, He's also working through the seemingly "better" times of chapter 2.

3. Allegiance, assassination attempts, and annals (Esther 2-3)

As life in the kingdom of Persia continued on its course, we learn about two "assassination" attempts. One is against the king, but Mordecai learns of the plot and tells Esther who then reports it to the king. Murder is avoided, and all this is recorded in the royal records. Another "assassination" attempt is against an entire ethnic group - the Jews. But we have to wait to see how this one unfolds. In the meantime, the king honors a man named Haman who then has a problem with Mordecai because he refuses to bow down to him. So Haman decides to annihilate not only Mordecai but all Jews throughout Persia. Yet, he doesn't act out according to his murderous intentions immediately. Rather, he casts a lot to determine the day of the attack.

Obviously, we're back to a "not-so-good-sounding" course of events. "Assassination attempts" on either individuals or entire ethnic groups are never signals that things are moving along in an "ideal" fashion, to say the least.

But you guessed it! God is at work. Through these events, we can see His providential fingerprints. He's working through even the evil attempts of assassination and the boring details of a royal record. And He's going to work through the casting of a lot because He alone is the One who's in control throughout all the events of every day on the calendar.

Just think about it: Life is in God's hands. He's the Creator and Sustainer. No one lives and dies without God's knowledge. Also, while the casting of the lot appears completely haphazard, we know better. Proverbs 16:33 plainly says, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord" (NIV).

Once again, God's providential fingerprints are all over the book of Esther (and also the entire Bible)! So be encouraged today. I'm not sure what you're going through. Things may appear "ideal" or "imperfect" before your eyes, but rest assured that God is sovereign. He's accomplishing His perfect purposes in and through all circumstances.

Paul wraps this truth up for us nicely in Romans 8:28 when he writes that "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (NIV). Also, the writer of Proverbs sums things up nicely for us in Proverbs 16:4, "The Lord works out everything for his own ends--even the wicked for a day of disaster" (NIV) and in Proverbs 19:21, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails" (NIV).

We may not see it now, but when the light of eternity bursts forth over the tapestry of our lives, we'll see God's providential fingerprints everywhere on the tattered threads of all our days. He is sovereignly weaving together His perfect purposes in and through all things!

Blessings...