The Plan Didn't Work
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The book of Esther is a fascinating book. The story is dramatic and catchy. It’s a page turner, as if you are reading a novel or one of America’s greatest fiction titles. However, the most interesting thing about the book of Esther is that it does not mention God. D.L. Moody once wrote,
The name of God is not found in Esther, but the activity of God is—overruling history, rewarding the good, punishing the evil, etc. It is the one book in the Bible devoted to showing the providence of God in human affairs.
This book teaches:—
1. The overruling providence of God.
2. His love for his own people.
3. His power to overturn the devices of the wicked.
The events of the Book of Esther is in the postexilic period, or the gathering era of the biblical narrative. Ironically, not only is the name of God missing from the Book of Esther, but so is any mention of the Mosaic/ Sinai covenant, Jewish tradition, the temple, the city of Jerusalem, or the land of Israel. This book is primarily about how the God-community who engages in prayer, courage, and strategy is afforded the intervention of God who sees their struggle. It includes bribery, genocide, racism and ethnic discrimination, and governmental plots. However, it also includes a spectacular story of how God divinely participates in the events of this world, in order to bring about His purpose for the good of His people.
Essentially, this is what I believe Paul may have had in mind in Romans 8:28. The theme present in the Book of Esther must have surely been on Paul’s mind, as God was revealing His intentional way of brining about His purpose in the lives of His people. In fact, Paul’s view of God’s providential intervention is corporate as we find in Esther. This is an important fact to recognize.
You know, there was another instance when the people of Israel faced major genocide. From 1933-1945, 6 million Jews were senselessly murdered through the Holocaust. The Holocaust was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of 6 million European Jews by the Nazi German regime and its allies and collaborators (Holocaust Encyclopedia).
All of this happened, because of the German nationalism and patriotism led by Adolf Hitler. The Germans were embarrassed by the Treaty of Versailles. Many of the Germans felt they were globally humiliated before the entire world after returning from World War I. As a result, the economy was bad, inflation was up, and the German mark was so invaluable, that it would take 4 billion marks just to make just one American dollar, and a wheelbarrow to purchase a loaf of bread.
The Nazis falsely accused the Jews of being the cause for German’s social, economic, political, and cultural problems (Holocaust Encyclopedia). The Nazis began to propagate ideas of German nationalism that would raise Germany out of their national woes, by the rise of a superior race (Aryans) and the destruction of an inferior race (Jews).
This was a terrible act of prejudice and antisemitism. However, this behavior was used before. In fact, it is seen in our text today.
Haman, The Bible’s Hitler
Haman, The Bible’s Hitler
In Esther 3:5-6, Haman led a antisemitic act against the people of God. Haman was an official in the Persian Empire, the second most powerful man in the kingdom. He was so self-centered, he demanded the land to bow in his presence. However, the Jewish man, Mordecai, refused.
Mordecai was a son of Benjamin. His name means follower of Marduk or of Marduk, of bitter oppression. Marduk was the principle deity of Babylon. As I consider the meaning of Mordecai’s name, I am surprised how a Hebrew man had a name attached to a Babylonian god. His name resembles the life that he’s had to endure. He was a slave or should we say, one born in slavery. His name is a reminder of the life he lived and the life he is trying to find.
As I consider the story, no wonder, Mordecai refused to bow. It was as if he was saying, “I’m tired of bowing.” I’ve lived a life of bitterness all my life. I’ve belonged to Marduk all my life, until now, and I was not put here in this role just to be a slave of Haman.
Every now and then, you have to make your mind you are tired of bowing. Just because you have spent the first half of your life bowing, it doesn’t mean you have to spend the rest of your life bowing.
So, Haman heard of Mordecai’s refusal to bow and decided to conspire against the entire community of God’s people (Esther 3:5-6). His rage did not allow him to settle with the murder of Mordecai, but his rage was so fierce that he expanded his consequence to an entire nation.
8 Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, “There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom, keeping themselves separate. Their laws are different from everyone else’s and they do not obey the king’s laws. It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.
9 If the king approves, let an order be drawn up authorizing their destruction, and I will pay 375 tons of silver to the officials for deposit in the royal treasury.”
Some people will not like you just because you were born a certain color, belong to a certain ethnic group, and live under certain cultural laws.
Haman’s plan sent the entire land into confusion and led to a panic and mourning. When the people received the news, they began to fast, pray, and dress in sackcloth and ashes. However, Mordecai moved into action.
The Power of a Strategy
The Power of a Strategy
What does God desire to intervene in the lives of his people? He desires His people to be actively executing a strategy. God does not simply appear in the middle of nothing. Rather, He goes to those who are actively doing something. Mordecai understood this principle and contacted Esther (Esther 4).
Now, I use the word strategy. But, strategy is simply the courageous and instinctive action in response to the belief that God will show up as one’s needs Him. As some have said, I improvise, “Even if you have to do it afraid, do what God tells you to do.”
Essentially, Mordecai was able to convince a very scared Esther to fight for her people (Esther 4:13-14). Esther’s response was,
15 Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:
16 “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.”
The people of God are called to be a courageous, strategic community—carrying out the mission of God. When we live in this mission, anything that comes against us, is coming against God. And anyone who comes against God, has to deal with God. This is what the promise God made to in Genesis 12:3 is all about.
3 I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
God’s Intentional Intervention
God’s Intentional Intervention
Esther 6 is about God’s intervention. In this chapter, we find God’s apparent presence. God set up Mordecai’s and Esther’s life for this moment.
God will allow you to experience a series of events in your life that will be tailored for a specific moment in your life.
The following ways represent how God is involved in the story of Esther:
Esther’s choice to be the king’s wife (Esther 2:1-20)
Mordecai’s decision to prevent the king’s assassination (Esther 2:21-23)
The king’s sleep (Esther 6:1)
The king’s call for the history books (Esther 6:1)
The fact that the story of Mordecai was written in the history (Esther 6:2).
Esther 6:3-7:10, God providentially looks after his people who’s steps He was ordering all along. There’s a song that was recorded by the GMWA Women of Worship. The lyrics are,
Order my steps in Your word dear Lord
Lead me, guide me everyday
Send Your anointing, Father I pray
Order my steps in Your word
Please, order my steps in Your word
Humbly, I ask Thee to teach me Your will
While You are working, help me be still
Though satan is busy, God is real
Order my steps in Your word
Please, order my steps in Your word
Briddle my tongue, let my words edify
Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Thy sight
Take charge of my thoughts both day and night
Please, order my steps in Your word
Please order my steps in Your word
I want to walk worthy
My calling to fulfill
Please order my steps Lord
And I'll do Your blessed will
The world is ever changing (but Jesus, You always remain the same)
But You are still the same
If You order my steps
I'll praise Your name
Conclusion
Conclusion
The take away from today’s message is that God will protect us from the plans our enemies have set for us, and He will present us with honor and glory. How is this? At the time of Jesus’s coming, the nation of Israel needed a Savior. They were looking for a redeemer, better than the ones they had seen in the past, because their struggles were greater than the ones they had seen before (See Luke 2:25, 26-35; 36-40).
The beauty of Jesus Christ’s coming is the fact that He showed up at a time when a nation needed Him the most. There was a National threat against the people of God that required a warrior, a strong man—someone who could deliver the people from a major threat.
Who was the threat? Rome? The emperor? No. Satan, hell, death, and the grave. Hebrews 2:14
Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—
The writer wants us to know that the coming of Jesus in the flesh was important, because we needed a human being in the earth that could do what no other person could do for the people of God. Here’s the big secret for us evangelicals: More than anybody, we [the people of God] need Jesus, because we are a part of a kingdom that is always under attack. We’ve tried to save the world, but the truth is, we are the ones who truly need Him.
As a believer, I need a Savior!