The gate for today’s background photo is located along a paved walking path. Every day, a sea of humanity passes by this gate … normal, common, ordinary people … passing by on the walking path.
So it was that from the “sea of humanity” in the Persian empire, a normal, common, ordinary Jewish girl was chosen … hand-picked to enter through the gate, ascend the stairs … and become the Queen of Persia.
The story of Esther takes place during the time when the Jews are returning back to their homeland after captivity. Already the first group has returned, led by Zerubbabel, and has rebuilt the Temple. The events of Esther occur during the 60-year timespan between that first group and the second, which would return under the leadership of Ezra.
It is during this time, in the Persian capitol city of Susa, that we meet a Jewish man – Mordecai. Mordecai holds a job of political importance in the king’s gate. Furthermore, Mordecai is the guardian of his uncle’s daughter … Hadassah (whose Persian name is Esther).
King Xerxes is on the throne, as the book of Esther dramatically opens in a scene of royal grandeur and Persian power on display! Action unfolds as the current queen is deposed and an empire-wide beauty contest is held to select a replacement queen.
Conspiracy, political intrigue, and suspense follow.
Arrogance and pride take center stage! Wounded pride results in rage … leading to a dark place of deep brooding hatred!
A plan to annihilate an entire people group is devised … the utter and complete destruction of the Jewish race!
Yet, the God of Heaven is at work to protect His chosen people. In the darkest hour … there arises a bright shining star of hope. Queen Esther … whose name literally means “star.”
The providence of God weaves a circumstantial net … catching, in a surprise plot twist at the last moment, the enemy in his own trap.
God’s people are spared! The enemies of the Jews are dealt with. Celebration and rejoicing close out the book of Esther, as God’s people give thanks and praise to God for His protection and deliverance!
The final words of the book of Esther are these: “Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.” – Esther 10:3
Perhaps you might feel like just a normal, common, ordinary person, passing by on the path of life … swept along in the “sea of humanity.” The story of Esther shows us that God is at work in every circumstance … in every detail. God is working all things out according to His plan and for His purposes.
* Proverbs 16:4 – “The LORD works out everything for His own ends – even the wicked for a day of disaster.”
* Proverbs 19:21 – “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
* Psalm 33:10-11 – “The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.”
* Psalm 33:18, 20 – “The eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love. We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.”
Jesus Christ in Esther … Jesus can be seen, pictured in the life of Esther.
Esther was an advocate for her people, even willing to die for them (Esther 4:1416). So also, Jesus Christ is an advocate for us! Jesus Christ was willing to die for us so that we might live.
* 1 John 2:1-2 – “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
* 1 John 4:9 – “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son [Jesus] into the world that we might live through Him.”
