-Esther: Was It Coincidence Or Providence?
Esther
Was It Coincidence Or Providence?
“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14
Is there such a thing as coincidence in the Christian life? Can we just happen to be in the right place at the right time? And what about the wrong place at the wrong time? Or does God control and guide our destiny – even to the people we meet, the places we visit and the particular times involved? Is it coincidence or Providence?
The answer to this question is both simple and complex. It is simple because the straightforward one-word answer is Providence. The Bible teaches that God is not only sovereign in controlling all things at all times, but He is actually programming and guiding events in accordance with His eternal purposes. Ephesians 1:11 says that He “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” And Psalm 33:11 says that “the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.” Nothing happens by chance or accident, and what appears to be merely fortunate or unfortunate circumstance is really the outworking of God’s plans.
A Complex Question
However, the answer to the question of coincidence or Providence is also complex – that is, complex from the human perspective, because of our finite limitations. We don’t always have the big picture to show us what God is doing and why He is doing it. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” declares the Lord (Isa. 55:9 NIV). How far God allows the sinful will of man, as well as the will of Satan, to operate in this world in specific instances is not easily determined. Again we must acknowledge, “How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!” (Rom. 11:33). And how God is able to allow the evil and cruelty that has been perpetrated by men and devils, and still “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will” is beyond our finite comprehension.
When and where God interrupts His natural laws by miraculous, supernatural intervention is not always clear. And what exact relationship exists between a believer’s prayers, both answered and unanswered, and the outworking of God’s predetermined plans and purposes does not have a simple answer. We do know, however, that “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (Jas. 5:16), and also that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Rom. 8:28). So while the biblical answer to our original question is Providence and not coincidence or chance – in any way, shape or form – we must acknowledge that our comprehension of this answer is far from complete. The intricate weavings of God’s workings in history are sometimes better appreciated than investigated (Ps. 131,139).
God At Work
An appreciation of Providence is one of the benefits that comes when we read the Book of Esther. Providence is the over-all theme of this Old Testament book. Although we do not find the name of God mentioned even once in the Book of Esther, throughout the book we are conscious of God working things together for good behind the scenes to accomplish His purposes. It is not coincidence, but Providence that is obviously at work in the events of Esther. The name of God is not read, but the hand of God is everywhere evident in this book of Scripture.
In fact, the concept of Providence is actually enhanced in Esther because God chose not to put His name in the headlines, but rather everywhere between the lines. There is a great practical lesson here for us. Many times God does not show Himself up front in His dealings with us, and yet we can be sure that He is silently and continually at work in our lives to accomplish His good purposes: “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6).
The events of the Book of Esther took place around 475 bc in the land of Persia, where Iran is today. The Jews had been forced to leave their homeland as captives many years before (586 bc) when the Babylonian army under Nebuchadnezzar conquered their nation and burned the Temple. After Babylon fell to the Persians in 539, the Persian king, Cyrus, issued an edict which granted permission to the Jews to return to the land of Judah. About 50,000 Jews returned to Jerusalem at that time, but many others chose to remain in the vicinity of Babylon and other areas of the expanding Persian Empire.
Some of the Jews prospered under Persian rule, and a few even held political office. Daniel and Nehemiah, for example, held high positions in the Persian government (Dan. 6:1; Neh. 1:11). Esther’s older cousin and guardian, Mordecai, also held some kind of government post. The phrase “sitting at the king’s gate” in Esther 2:21 seems to indicate this. However, there was also a significant amount of anti-semitism at this time, as Esther 3:13 and 9:1 indicate.
It was in this historical context that Haman – a high government official and the villain of the story – was confident that his scheme to kill all the Jews of the empire would be carried out (Est. 3:8,13). Naturally, it looked like all hope for the Jews was gone. The lot was literally cast (Est. 3:7). Satan’s design to do away with God’s people, from whom the predicted Messiah would come, seemed foolproof. But Providence was at work.
Right Place, Right Time
Xerxes I (Ahasuerus is the Hebrew form of this name) was more than a little miffed when Queen Vashti refused to show off her beautiful body at the King’s banquet and drinking party (Est. 1:10-12). Vashti’s subsequent exile opened the door for a new queen to attain this influential position with King Ahasuerus. Providence! And it just worked out that the beautiful Esther happened to be in the right place at the right time and was selected as the new queen. More Providence!
Let’s pause for a practical lesson. Is it not possible that God has sovereignly ordained your good looks or unique abilities to be used in a special way for His glory? Think of all the factors that “just happened” to fall into place for Esther. Even the king’s mood happened to be just right on Esther’s date of appearance. This is especially significant when we learn from extra-biblical sources that Xerxes I was a very cruel, moody and temperamental emperor. This fact helps us understand verses like Esther 4:11, which tell us “that he put to death” those who approached him without invitation. Again we see Providence at work in bringing Esther to the place and position in God’s plan and purpose to save His people.
It should be noted that God in no way placed Esther in a compromising situation. Her night with the king (Est. 2:14-16) was not an act of fornication. All the women in the king’s harem were considered married to the king. Xerxes I was a polygamist, but Esther was not an adulteress. Perhaps Esther 4:14 – “for such a time as this” – could apply directly to the position or job God has placed you in right now. Never think in terms of coincidence, chance or accident, but rather Providence.
Meanwhile, Mordecai just happened to overhear a plot to assassinate King Ahasuerus. This information was passed on to the king through Esther and was documented in the royal records (Est. 2:21-23). It wasn’t long before these events also proved providential. One night King Ahasuerus could not sleep, so he passed the time reading those records. Sure enough, he read about Mordecai’s loyalty and decided to reward him (Est. 6:1-3). God was even in control of the king’s insomnia and his reading material.
About this time wicked Haman arrived at the palace to request permission to hang Mordecai. Haman hated this faithful Jew because he refused to bow down to any mere man, even the exalted Haman. The king asked Haman, “What should be done for the man the king desires to honor?” (Est. 6:6). Haman’s eyes lit up as he thought of ways he himself could be paraded around town with royal robes and crown. Little did he dream that the king had Mordecai in mind. And guess who had to lead the parade for Mordecai? Haman! What Providence!
Test Of Faith
Esther had come to the conclusion that she must act on behalf of her people even at the cost of her life. Just because Esther was providentially brought to her influential position did not mean that life would be easy or that God would not test her faith. God tests our faith! (Jas. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:7). Are you being tested right now in the position where God has placed you? Can you by faith say, as Esther said, “If I perish, I perish” (Est. 4:16).
It certainly wasn’t coincidence that Ahasuerus not only extended the golden scepter to Esther, but offered her up to half the Persian Empire as well (Est. 5:2-3). Unbelievable! Esther was hoping only that the king would give her an opportunity to plead for mercy for her people. She never expected a blank check. Providence! God is still “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Eph. 3:20). Incidentally, what would you ask for if half the Persian Empire were offered to you?
A Nation Saved
As a result of Esther’s courage and faithfulness, wicked Haman was eliminated – “hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai” (Est. 7:10) – and the Jewish people were saved. Of course, from the divine perspective it was Providence all the way. Even Haman’s cast of the dice (Est. 3:7) was controlled by the hand of God so that the Jews would have eight months to prepare for their defense. Proverbs 16:33 says, “The Lot is cast … but its every decision is from the Lord.” The fact that the Persian edict to kill all the Jews could not be revoked (Est. 8:8) was also part of God’s plan. The new decree which countered this “law of the Medes and Persians” not only resulted in the preservation of the Jews, but in the elimination of many anti-semites. The feast of Purim, which is still observed annually by many Jews, originated to celebrate these events.
All these events in the Book of Esther were the result of Providence, not coincidence. And events in our lives today are not governed by coincidence or chance. They are all part of God’s providential plan for our ultimate blessing.
By David R. Reid
With permission to publish by: Sam Hadley, Grace & Truth, 210 Chestnut St., Danville, IL., USA. Website: www.gtpress.org
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