The Silent Mover and Shaker
Esther is one of the books of the Bible in which Yahweh is not mentioned and does not seem to be involved in world events. Yet Yahweh is always present and working His will in individuals and nations. He is continually moving events toward the fulfillment of His plans and desires. So in Esther Yahweh is always there moving and shaking things to get people where He wants them to be in order to accomplish His will. There are seven events in Esther in which we can see the hand of Yahweh in such a manner.
1. In Esther 4:13-14 we can see that Yahweh is positioning His servants at the right time and in the right place to accomplish His will.
‘Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
2. Then in Esther 5:1-2 Yahweh places His servants in positions of favor to accomplish His will.
“Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.”
3. In Esther 2:8 we see that Yahweh uses world events to position His servants in positions of authority.
“So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.”
4. Esther 2:21-22 shows us that Yahweh positions His servants to influence world events.
“In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.“
5. Again we see Yahweh working in Esther 7:3-6 to give His servants boldness in dangerous situations.
“Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.”
6. In Esther 8:7-8 Yahweh is seen positioning His servants with power and authority to accomplish His will.
“Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.”
7. Finally in Esther 9:15-17 Yahweh positions His servants to overcome obstacles and obtain success.
“For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand. But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey, On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.”
So when the LORD seems silent and unresponsive, faithfully look to Him and observe His hand moving and shaking the world around you.
For Jesus’ Kingdom,
Brother Hugh Folds
Romans 14:17
