I recently read about a nationwide business coming under scrutiny for its Christian beliefs. Despite pressure from the public, the company insisted that printing a subtle Scripture reference on their packaging was a non-negotiable aspect of their business plan. This reminded me of other examples of believers standing on their faith even when it’s difficult. With every company that stands firm, every professional athlete who takes a stance, every famous person who refuses to compromise their values, we see God working through believers who fight the good fight of faith.
The book of Esther tells us of a courageous group of people in a strange land subtly pointing toward a sovereign God in a similar manner. Esther’s story is an echo of our own struggles to fit in amidst a culture in which we don’t fully belong, a gentle reminder of God’s sovereignty and His glory even when His name is neither welcome nor obvious.
Esther reminds us that God is present, even when He feels distant. As exiles in a foreign land, the Jewish people felt far away from God. They lived in a new culture. They were surrounded by people hostile to them. Even the book of Esther itself does not mention God’s name, a subtle indication of His feeling far away during that time. However, through Esther’s story, we see that God is omnipresent in ancient Persia, just as He is in our lives today. The persistent line “and it so happened” appears throughout this book to reiterate the reminder of God’s hand in the direction of events. When we find ourselves in a “it so happened” experience, we are wise to rightly recognize the source of such coincidences. Likewise, when we feel that God is far away, His invisible nature does not indicate absence from us or from our struggles.
Esther reminds us that God is good, even in our sinfulness. As in life itself, sin abounds in the book of Esther. Aside from Haman’s and the king’s shocking amount of pride, even Esther and Mordecai engaged in behavior that fell short of God’s commands. Esther married a non-Jew and took part in Babylonian customs, including eating food that was forbidden. Mordecai and Esther both participated in deceptive means for their protection. And yet (it just so happened!) God used them anyway. The purpose of sinful behaviors—scheming to annihilate an entire group of people, an insomniac king who asked for a bedtime story about himself, a wife who encouraged her husband’s ego—is revealed as means to an eternally fruitful end. Our sin does not and cannot blockade God’s will from being fulfilled. We can be assured that He can work through us in spite of the sinfulness we carry.
Esther reminds us that God is glorified, even when His name is not spoken. The book of Esther culminates in a celebration instituted by the Jewish people, a remembrance of God’s protection. Purim, named after the processes of casting lots, serves as a reminder that coincidences and circumstances are all within God’s plan. Though we should speak God’s name and honor Him with praise, we can have reassurance that He will also be glorified in circumstances that fail to specifically name Him. In life’s difficulties, we are right to recognize His hand at work for His glory even when we don’t see it.
Prayer: When we feel far away from You, or when human sinfulness refuses to welcome You, please help us remember that You are sovereign and glorified in all we do. Amen.
