God at work behind the scenes

Every day we’re asking four questions about part of the Bible. Today Liz Nixon answers:

What did I like about today’s passage?

I love Mordecai’s confidence that relief and deliverance will undoubtedly come for the Jews – he is a godly man who knows exactly who God is, that He does not abandon His people and will come to their rescue. I love that he challenges Esther, suggesting that perhaps she has been elevated to Queen of Persia “for such a time as this” to deliver the Jews. Mordecai has a kingdom mindset, speaking into Esther’s destiny, pointing to who she could be, encouraging her to step out of her comfort zone and partner with God to save His people.

I really admire Esther’s bravery. Once she decides she will speak to the King, she organises a prayer team to fast and pray for her. She knows that she desperately needs God’s favour for the King to be willing to speak to her. Even as a Queen, she could not just go and speak to King Xerxes, this was no modern marriage! She had to wait for him to ask for her, which hadn’t happened for more than a month. Or she could request to see him, but he could refuse and then execute her for even asking! But she is willing to die in trying, saying “if I perish, I perish”.

I’ve also enjoyed the irony that Haman assumes the King wishes to honour him and makes extravagant suggestions of how the king could do that. Then the brilliant twist that the King wishes to honour Mordecai, and Haman must lead the honouring of him, with all the things he had meant for himself!

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

Just because God is silent, it does not mean He is uninvolved and sat idly by watching things unfold. Whilst Haman is scheming to murder Mordecai, God is at work setting things in motion. The king is unable to sleep and asks for his record book to be read to him, revealing that Mordecai had saved his life. This key event happens the very night before Haman plans to hang Mordecai – clearly God uses sleepless nights to fulfil His purposes!

It’s also a reminder that God loves to partner with His people, ordinary people like Mordecai, Esther and me! We get invited to participate as His sons and daughters in the family business of bringing forth the kingdom and pushing back the evil in this world. God could have easily dealt with Haman Himself, but He chose to give opportunity to Esther and Mordecai, who accepted His invite and worked with Him to save His people.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

I would love to have Mordecai’s confidence in God, assuming God will intervene. So, I’m going to pray and ask God to increase my confidence in Him.

Who am I going to share this with?

Those friends that I spend the most time with.