Trusting God's Plan When You Don't See Him: Lessons From the Book of EstherSýnishorn

The day of the original edict is finally here. It’s a day the enemies of the Jews were hoping to overpower them, but God had a different plan. How many “but God” moments have happened in your life? Something bad could have happened, but God saved you in the nick of time. Maybe something bad did happen, but God allowed good to come out of it. We need to look at those “but God” moments in our life and remember them. And, who knows how many times we have been rescued from something that we didn’t even know anything about!

The Bible says the tables were turned on this day! Knowing those that hated the Jews were coming to destroy them, Esther’s new edict allowed the people to assemble together and prepare to fight back.

I couldn’t help but see the power of assembling when God’s people come together. Don’t get me wrong, God can do big things just through one believer, but when we come together and unite under a God-given purpose, we can accomplish so much more for the kingdom. As Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “One man is able to have power over him who is alone, but two can stand against him. It is not easy to break a rope made of three strings.”

The enemy likes to scatter, isolate and keep us from gathering together in Christian fellowship. There are still countries that don’t allow Christian churches to assemble to this day. The enemy of our soul can isolate us on an individual level as well. If you battle depression or anxiety, you may feel the desire to draw away from friends and family and be alone. You may even feel like you’re a bother to others. Don’t believe that lie! Learn the power of community with fellow believers. You weren’t meant to go through this life alone! Fight the urge to hide and instead seek out relationships. It’s your first step in fighting back for your very life!

Back to our story, Esther asks for one more day to allow the Jewish people to “protect themselves and get relief from their enemies.” (Esther 9:15) She also asks that Haman’s sons be hanged on the gallows. The king grants her requests. In the end, the Jewish people are saved and celebrations ensue.

“Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” (Esther 9: 20 - 22)

And that my friends, is the story of Purim and why it is still celebrated to this day. It’s always important to remember the past and in this instance, to celebrate what God did to protect His people.

Questions:

1. What “but God” moment has happened in your life?

2. Have you experienced a time in your life where you didn’t feel like going to church or gathering with other believers? Why and how did that make you feel?

3. Why is it important to set aside time to remember what God has done in your life?