Introduction

Good morning, brothers and sisters! Today, we are going to delve into the book of Esther, specifically Chapter 5, where we encounter the providence of God in the face of pain and misery, His power in the midst of evil, and the hope He provides in difficult times.

In the words of Jerry Bridges, "He has a purpose in every pain He allows in our lives." And indeed, as we shall see in Esther's story, God often calls us not in the comfort of our strengths, but in the discomfort of our weaknesses.

But before we dive in, let's read together Esther Chapter 5:

[Read passage]

Let's bow our heads as we open this time in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we humbly come before You today, ready to learn and grow through Your word. We pray for understanding and wisdom as we navigate the truths within the book of Esther. May our hearts be receptive, our minds be open, and our spirits be willing to be molded by Your divine hand. Help us to see You even in the midst of our pain, misery, and difficult times. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Alright, let’s dive in!

The Providence of God

As we delve into the narrative, we see Esther, a Jewish girl, who was chosen to be the queen of Persia, a position that came with its own share of difficulties. In the midst of her pain and misery, God's providence was at work, orchestrating events for His glory and the good of His people.

His sovereignty over all circumstances: Even in the midst of Esther's pain and misery, God was in control. He was not caught off guard by the evil plans of Haman, nor was He powerless to intervene. On the contrary, He was working behind the scenes, using even the evil intentions of Haman to bring about His purposes. This is a comforting truth for us today. No matter what we are going through, we can rest assured that God is in control. He is not surprised by our circumstances, and He is able to use them for His glory and our good.

His ability to use ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things: Esther was an ordinary Jewish girl, yet God used her to save her people from destruction. She did not have any special abilities or qualifications, but she was willing to be used by God, and that made all the difference. This reminds us that God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called. He can use us, with all our weaknesses and shortcomings, to accomplish His purposes.

Not limited by our understanding: There were probably many times when Esther did not understand what was happening or why she was in the position she was in. Yet, she trusted in God and obeyed His leading, even when it did not make sense. This is a challenge for us today. We may not always understand what God is doing or why He is allowing certain things to happen. But we can trust in His providence, knowing that He is working all things together for our good.

Often most evident in retrospect: It was only after the events had unfolded that Esther could see how God had been at work. In the midst of her pain and misery, it may have been difficult for her to see God's hand. But in hindsight, she could see how He had orchestrated everything for His purposes. Similarly, we may not always see God's hand in our lives in the moment. But as we look back, we can see how He has been at work, even in the most difficult times.

The Power of God

As we delve deeper into the narrative of Esther, we see the power of God manifesting in the midst of evil ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO