GOD IS IN CONTROL

Ezra NehemiahEsther

Temple JerusalemPeople

ArtaxerxesXerxesCyrus464-423 B.C.

486-464 B.C.

500-530 B.C.

Ezra NehemiahEsther

Temple JerusalemPeople

F R O M E T E R N I T Y

THE PROVIDENCE of GOD

ESTHEREsther 1-10

1. Overview, Out of View, In View (1:1-22)

2. Coronation & Assassination (2:1-23)

3. Annihilation & Examination (3:1-15; 4:1-14)

4. Fasting, Feasting & Fury (4:15-17; 5:1-14)

5. Insomnia & Hamania (6:1-14; 7:1-10)

6. Promotion, Purim & Prosperity (8:1-17; 9:1-31; 10:1-3)

E s t h e r

WHY NO NAME OF GOD?

1] God was missing from the Jewish people’s lives . 2] God wanted the action/timing shout His name. 3] God spoke displeasure, or let silence express it . 4] To make us realize that history itself is God’s .

WHY NO NAME OF GOD?

1] God was missing from the Jewish people’s lives . 2] God wanted the action/timing shout His name. 3] God spoke displeasure, or let silence express it . 4] To make us realize that history itself is God’s .

WHY NO NAME OF GOD?

1] God was missing from the Jewish people’s lives . 2] God let the action & timing shout His name. 3] God spoke displeasure, or let silence express it . 4] To make us realize that history itself is God’s .

WHY NO NAME OF GOD?

1] God was missing from the Jewish people’s lives . 2] God let the action & timing shout His name. 3] God spoke displeasure, or let silence express it . 4] To make us realize that history itself is God’s .

WHY NO NAME OF GOD?

1] God was missing from the Jewish people’s lives . 2] God let the action & timing shout His name. 3] God spoke displeasure, or let silence express it . 4] To make us realize that history itself is God’s .

Esther reads like a great story written by a great author, but in this case God writes the story in the fullest sense: 

1] He is ‘scripting’ every event.

2] He over-arches the story with God’s “Meta-Narrative” of His sovereignty & man’s grossly apparent weakness. 

3] He shows that even when man’s evil includes genocide (Haman) & chauvinist egomania (Xerxes), “Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee.” Ps 76:10

 4] He inspires the writer to scribe it exactly as He wishes.

Esther reads like a great story written by a great author, but in this case God writes the story in the fullest sense: 

1] He is ‘scripting’ every event.

2] He over-arches the story with God’s “Meta-Narrative” of His sovereignty & man’s grossly apparent weakness. 

3] He shows that even when man’s evil includes genocide (Haman) & chauvinist egomania (Xerxes), “Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee.” Ps 76:10

 4] He inspires the writer to scribe it exactly as He wishes.

Esther reads like a great story written by a great author, but in this case God writes the story in the fullest sense: 

1] He is ‘scripting’ every event.

2] He over-arches this story with God’s “Meta-Narrative” of His sovereignty & man’s grossly apparent weakness. 

3] He shows that even when man’s evil includes genocide (Haman) & chauvinist egomania (Xerxes), “Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee.” Ps 76:10

 4] He inspires the writer to scribe it exactly as He wishes.

Esther reads like a great story written by a great author, but in this case God writes the story in the fullest sense: 

1] He is ‘scripting’ every event.

2] He over-arches this story with God’s “Meta-Narrative” of His sovereignty & man’s grossly apparent weakness. 

3] He shows that even when man’s evil includes genocide (Haman) & chauvinist egomania (Xerxes), “Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee.” Ps 76:10

 4] He inspires the writer to scribe it exactly as He wishes.

Esther reads like a great story written by a great author, but in this case God writes the story in the fullest sense: 

1] He is ‘scripting’ every event.

2] He over-arches this story with God’s “Meta-Narrative” of His sovereignty & man’s grossly apparent weakness. 

3] He shows that even when man’s evil includes genocide (Haman) & chauvinist egomania (Xerxes), “Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee.” Ps 76:10

 4] He inspires the writer to scribe it exactly as He wishes.

6 Main Characters:

1] Ahasuerus (Xerxes) E. 1:1-22] Vashti E. 1:93] Mordecai E. 2:5-64] Esther E. 2:75] Haman E. 3:1

 

6 Main Characters:

1] Ahasuerus (Xerxes) E. 1:1-22] Vashti E. 1:93] Mordecai E. 2:5-64] Esther E. 2:75] Haman E. 3:1

 

6 Main Characters:

1] Ahasuerus (Xerxes) E. 1:1-22] Vashti E. 1:93] Mordecai E. 2:5-64] Esther E. 2:75] Haman E. 3:1

 

6 Main Characters:

1] Ahasuerus (Xerxes) E. 1:1-22] Vashti E. 1:93] Mordecai E. 2:5-64] Esther E. 2:75] Haman E. 3:1

 

6 Main Characters:

1] Ahasuerus (Xerxes) E. 1:1-22] Vashti E. 1:93] Mordecai E. 2:5-64] Esther E. 2:75] Haman E. 3:1

 

6 Main Characters:

1] Ahasuerus (Xerxes) E. 1:1-22] Vashti E. 1:93] Mordecai E. 2:5-64] Esther E. 2:75] Haman E. 3:1

 

6 Main Characters:

1] Ahasuerus (Xerxes) E. 1:1-22] Vashti E. 1:93] Mordecai E. 2:5-64] Esther E. 2:75] Haman E. 3:1

 

GOD

!

GOD

within the s

hadow

keeping watch

above his o

wn

What the Book does NOT have: No mention of . . .

1] God2] The Love of God3] The Son of God 4] Spiritual death5] Eternal Life6] Faith 7] God’s Greatest Gift

Contrast with John 3:16 which mentions all 7 in 25 words.

What the Book does NOT have: No mention of . . .

1] God2] The Love of God3] The Son of God 4] Spiritual death5] Eternal Life6] Faith 7] God’s Greatest Gift

Contrast with John 3:16 which mentions all 7 in 25 words.

PROVIDENCE: from pro (ahead) + videre (to see)

God sees all in advance, & takes action accordingly.

“Providence is the hand of God in the glove of human events”

Esther Chapter

1

1. Overview, Out of View, In View (1:1-22)

Coronation & Assassination (2:1-23)

Annihilation & Examination (3:1-15; 4:1-14)

Fasting, Feasting & Fury (4:15-17; 5:1-14)

Insomnia & Hamania (6:1-14; 7:1-10)

Promotion, Purim & Prosperity (8:1-17; 9:1-31; 10:1-3)

E s t h e r

“… Over 127 provinces” [E 1:1 ]

Persia was the largest

empire to date in history

(Roman Empire

was still just this little

‘dot’)

“On his royal throne in Susa” [E 1:2 ]

Providence

& Practice # 1

God is IN your situation right now.

He may be silent , but He is not inactive.

He may be invisible, but he is not blind .

Is there an area of your life where you need to exercise faith for

“Evidence of Things Not Seen” ?

Providence

& Practice # 2You might not see or benefit

from God’s providence. 

God used Vashti’s loss to save the Jews, but Vashti got no “pay back”,

not that God owed her anything.

Providence &

Practice # 2 You might not see or benefit

from God’s providence. 

God used Vashti’s loss to save the Jews, but Vashti got no “pay back”,

not that God owed her anything.

Do I ‘hang back’ in my dedication because God still owes me

something?

Providence &

Practice # 3

The PROVIDENCE OF GODcan cause a despicable Queen, Vashti, to make an honourable stand so that

one better than she, Esther, can become Queen for such a time as this.

Consider non-Christians who ‘oppose’ you,

and look for ways that God’s Providence

is working IN them & THROUGH them.

 

Providence & Practice # 4

God can use even man’s failings

for His glory and His plan.

Is there a past failing that haunts you,

that God wants to ‘redeem’?

The Bigger PictureLeap forward almost 500 years & see

a Jewish baby born in Bethlehem.

In the manger was The Lion of the tribe of Judah 1 of the tribes saved among 20 million Jews.

God was not just saving His people’s lives;He was maintaining the line of descent to their

Saviour.

Providence & Practice

# 5

The Bigger PictureLeap forward almost 500 years & see

a Jewish baby born in Bethlehem.

In the manger was The Lion of the tribe of Judah

1 of the tribes saved among 20 million Jews.

God was not just saving His people’s lives;He was maintaining the line of descent to their

Saviour.

The Bigger PictureLeap forward almost 500 years & see

a Jewish baby born in Bethlehem.

In the manger was The Lion of the tribe of Judah

1 of the tribes saved among 20 million Jews.

God was not just saving His people’s lives;

He was maintaining the line of descent

to their Saviour.

Providence & Practice # 6

A Worldscape PictureMove forward about 30 more years & again see hasty, ill-advised, foolish, proud, angry,

disrespectfuldecisions to crucify the Son of God.

Yet God would turn it all to salvation in 3 days … “For God so loved the WORLD.”

The action in Esther reached forwardto the offer of salvation for the whole world.

 

Providence & Practice # 6

A Worldscape PictureMove forward about 30 more years & again see hasty, ill-advised, foolish, proud, angry,

disrespectfuldecisions to crucify the Son of God.

Yet God would turn it all to salvation in 3 days … “For God so loved the WORLD.”

The action in Esther reached forwardto the offer of salvation for the whole world.

 

Providence & Practice # 6

A Worldscape PictureMove forward about 30 more years & again see hasty, ill-advised, foolish, proud, angry,

disrespectfuldecisions to crucify the Son of God.

Yet God would turn it all to salvation in 3 days … “For God so loved the WORLD.”

The action in Esther reached forward

to salvation for the whole world.

 

Providence & Practice # 7

An Individual Portrait“…that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16b)

The action of Esther reachesforward into this room today.

*

It preserved the line of descent to the Saviour who offers

Himself to . . . YOU !

Providence & Practice # 7

An Individual Portrait“…that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16b)

The action of Esther reachesforward into this room today.

*

It preserved the line of descent to the Saviour who offers

Himself to . . . YOU !

Providence & Practice # 7

An Individual Portrait“…that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16b)

The action of Esther reachesforward into this room today.

*

It preserved the lineage to the Saviour for . . . YOU !