Read Genesis 28, Esther 4, and Psalms 10-13.
This devotional is about Esther 4.
The book of Esther shows up early in our English Bibles, arriving before the book of Psalms. But the events recorded in the book of Esther happened late, historically speaking, in the timeline of Old Testament events. The setting for this book is Persia (1:1-2). Remember that, because of their unfaithfulness to God, the Southern Kingdom of Judah, had been conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. God’s people were carried away to live in Babylon under Babylonian rule. But, after decades of Babylonian rule, the Persians came and conquered the Babylonians and Jews were then subject to the Persians.
So, as I wrote in the last paragraph, the setting for the book of Esther is Persia. That’s because God’s people were still living in exile away from the land of Judah. Esther, for whom this book of the Bible is named, was an orphan on the edge of adulthood at the beginning of this book. Because she was an orphan, she was raised by her cousin Mordecai, according to Esther 2:7 and 3:15.
Mordecai and Esther, then, were Jews living in the pagan land of Persia. When Xerxes, king of Persia, went looking for a new queen, he chose Esther, and she became his wife. All of these events were recorded for us in Esther 1 and 2, which we read in the past few days if you are following the daily Bible reading schedule.
In chapter 3, Xerxes, king of Persia, elevated a man named Haman to a powerful place in the kingdom. Haman, though, hated Mordecai and convinced King Xerxes to exterminate all the Jewish people. Now, here in chapter 4, Mordecai learned of this threat to their lives and he acted in a way that got Queen Esther’s attention in the royal palace (4:1-6). Then Mordecai informed Esther about the plot to exterminate them all (vv. 7-9). Mordecai instructed Esther to go to the king and plead for the lives of the Jews (end of v. 8).
Esther replied that if she did what Mordecai wanted, she was putting her own life in immediate jeopardy (vv. 10-11). Mordecai responded that she was going to lose her life anyway if Haman’s plot against the Jews was carried out (vv. 12-14), so she might as well use the influence and position she had to try to save their lives (v. 14).
The most interesting thing about the book of Esther is that God’s name does not appear at all, not one time. God’s name is not uttered or referenced in the book of Esther, nor is God directly mentioned in any way. Esther is the only book in the Bible like that. In a volume of God’s written revelation known as the Bible, there is a book where God’s name does not even appear.
Yet, despite no direct reference to God, God’s fingerprints are all over the story recorded in this book of the Bible. In verse 14, Mordecai told Esther, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place….” He could have said, “God will find another way to save his people,” but he didn’t say that. Later, in the same verse, Mordecai told Esther, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (v. 14c).
It is difficult to know how godly Mordecai and Esther actually were. Esther became queen by winning a sexual immorality contest (see Esther 2, particularly verse 14). Mordecai and Esther may not have had any choice in that matter, but maybe they could have resisted and didn’t.
But, although Mordecai may not have used God’s name directly, he seems to have understood God’s covenant promise to the Jews. When he said to Esther in verse 14b, “…relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place….” he was expressing confidence that God would keep his promise in the Abrahamic covenant. And, when Mordecai told Esther, “…who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (v. 14c), he was indirectly referencing God’s sovereign control of events.
Similarly, when Esther asked for all the Jews in Susa to fast (4:15-17) and said that she would fast, too (v. 16), this is probably an indirect reference to prayer. So, as I mentioned earlier in this devotional, God may not have been directly mentioned in the book of Esther, but his fingerprints are all over the book.
That’s because God is sovereign over everything. Xerxes was a powerful king with the ability to control many things. But God is the King of Kings and he can control a pagan king who does not even know him. He can use the free choices of people like Xerxes, Haman, Esther, and Mordecai to work his will and create an incredible story in the process of working his will.
This is why you and I should not worry so much about the outcome of elections or world events. We should seek to do what is right within our control, as Mordecai and Esther did in this chapter. And, we should be willing to take some risks to do what is right as Esther determined to do in verse 16. But, like Mordecai and Esther, we should believe that God is in control and that he will accomplish his plan. We should pray for the outcomes we think are right and act in righteous ways, but through it all, we need to remind ourselves and each other that God is working, so we should trust him.
So, trust him today! Even if things look bleak to you and you see no way out of a bad situation, trust the Lord. He has a plan that will amaze you and bring glory to himself.