THE STORY OF JESUS: Esther 3:7-11
“The pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.” (Esther 3:7)
Nowhere in this book is God mentioned at all.
But God is here in this story, as He is in all history (why it is ‘His Story’).
God doesn’t cause sin or suffering, He doesn’t MAKE Haman do bad things.
They freely hate and rage and steal and murder, driven by their own selfish heart.
But God WILL not abandon us to our freedom, He keeps control of the story’s END.
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:33)
Behind the scenes, invisible to our eyes, God is directing the affairs of our world.
He turns what people mean for evil towards a good outcome.
He works through daily events and circumstances to draw people back to Himself.
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” (Acts 17:26-27)
There is not such thing as ‘coincidence’, only God-incidents.
Haman is told to “do with these people as he pleases” (v.11), but in the end God does what He pleases!
The lot was used to determine a day for killing the Jews, but God has other plans.
The cross was used to put an end to Jesus and hope, but God has other plans.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, You have shown us that we can entrust ourselves to God’s sovereign goodness. Give me eyes to see the God-incidents that are happening around me, and to trust You to the end!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Observations/Application
Casting lots – then meant trusting the spirits of the day to see the right time when to execute their wicked plan.
The king listened and did not question. Wisdom was certainly lacking.
Putting these people to death would also be a drain on the income for the treasury and therefor Haman would donate monies to make his plan succeed. The king however refused the monies and told Haman to work out his plan since he was a respected person in his courts.
But our plans need to be in line with God’s plans. David wanted to build a temple but God had said no. Being intune with His way is the only way. The king was a ‘people pleaser.’ Remember the party? And now again.
I need to please the Lord and work His will for my life. I need to be in tune with Him always. And each day anew I must start with Him and walk throughout the day with my risen Saviour. I must please Him in all I do and say.
When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.