Now before we begin, let us turn this time to God in prayer.

“Eternal God and our Father in heaven, once again we thank You for every opportunity to gather around Your Word. We realise we have in our hands divine and inspired Word. So we pray that You will this morning grant by Your grace as we hear Your words. May we not just be hearers but be doers as well. For these, we ask and pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Now for those of you who are interested in a Bible trivia or Bible question, now you probably have heard of this question before and it is this. How many books in the Bible are named after a woman? How many books in the Bible are named after a woman? I won’t call your name and ask you to shout out the answer, but the answer is two. Only two books in the Bible are named after a woman. Now one is the book of Ruth which by now most of us here should be familiar which we have just completed, and the other is the book of Esther. The book of Esther, which we will begin looking at starting this week.

Now how about this one? How about this question: How many books in the Bible were written by a woman? How many books in the Bible were written by a woman? Answer? Zero, none. Very good. No books in the Bible were written by a woman. In fact, Jewish sources tells us that the book of Ruth was written by the prophet Samuel, and the book of Esther was written by a man by the name of Mordecai. Mordecai, one whom we hope to come to know a little bit more in the weeks that follows, God willing. And so, it is to this book- the book of Esther that we come this morning.

Now you see, the book of Esther has got ten chapters. And if you’d recall, the book of Ezra also has ten chapters. So, Esther, ten chapters; Ezra, ten chapters. You should be able to remember this for the rest of your life. Now we’ve looked at Ezra, both beginning at the letter E and both ending at ten chapters. And if you’ve been a Christian for some period of time, I’m sure you would have heard of this book, the book of Esther. Probably know it’s somewhere in the Old Testament, but I’m not sure how many professing believers have actually sat down and read through all ten chapters of the book of Esther.

So, if you have not, now would be a good time to start since we are beginning to look at it. I mean not right now at this while. So, you can go back, now take some time, sit down, and read through all ten chapters. Now it is a fascinating read. I say it is easy for us to sit down and read through the entire ten chapters in one or two seating. It’s a very glued-you-to-your-seat type of reading which can be easily completed. So, you can be encouraged it’s not as difficult as say Numbers or Leviticus. So be encouraged.

Now for those of you who have not, so I encourage you to go back and read through this book. But for some of us here who have previously read through this book, see no harm reading through again because as I mentioned it is such a fascinating story. Such a fascinating story. Now but the difference here is this. This is not just a story. It’s not just a story. It is his story. Now it’s history. It is a real story. about real people at real points in their lives making real decisions about real events that happened to them. It is history, not just a story.

So, we start our journey through this book, the book of Esther. Now today we won’t be even able to cover even the first chapter because I believe it is important for us to first lay the foundation as to why we are coming to this book. So, for us as we come to look at our sermon, this morning I have just three points. Three points by way of introduction for us to this book. It’s taken from the name of this one lady. One lady, the title of our sermon. And the three points I have are these- one picture, one problem, and one point. One picture, one problem, one point. Let’s begin. One picture.

Now what do I mean by one picture? Now I want to start by first setting the context of this story. I want to put this story in this historical perspective and ask the question: When did this happen? When did this happen? When did the story of Esther happen? And my intention here is not to go through the entire historical narrative. But rather I wish to draw from the knowledge of the book of Ezra which I think majority of us here have already gone through. We’ve already seen. Because by now you should know that the Jews were taken into captivity by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar for seventy years. So, they were in exile for seventy years.

And when the seventy years were up, they were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and to rebuild the city walls. And we also know that they went back in three ways. The first wave led by Zerubbabel, the second wave led by Ezra, and the third wave led by Nehemiah. So, three ways. And again, drawing from your knowledge of the book of Ezra we know that the book of Ezra can be divided into two portions. Chapter 1 to chapter 6, which is the first wave led by Zerubbabel to Jerusalem, and chapter 7 to chapter 10 is the second wave.

You see, the story of Esther happens somewhere in between those two portions. The story of Esther happens somewhere in between those two portions. Which means right after Zerubbabel let the first wave of exiles back to Jerusalem but before Ezra would lead the second wave. Alright so I hope you see that. Now it’ll give you some idea of the timing of this story. But the difference here is this. Now while the story of Zerubbabel and Ezra and Nehemiah centre around the area of Jerusalem alright, the story of Esther focuses more around this area, now this location by the name of Susa (or in some translations it’s Shushan).

Now Susa (or Shushan) is the capital of the Persian empire, now the capital the Persian empire. So, one is in Jerusalem, one is in Susa. One is in modern day Israel; one is in modern day Iran. So, you get, I hope you’re able to follow. In fact, this place Susa is repeated some twenty times in the entire book of Esther. So modern day Iran is where we are focusing our story today. Now during this time in Susa there was a king. There was a king. Now he was of course the king of the Persian empire, the world power at that point of time. And we see his name immediately introduced to us at the start of this book.

So, take your Bibles and turn with me to the book of Esther and look at chapter 1. Esther chapter 1, and look at verse 1. Esther 1:1, it says this: “Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel”. Now see in just these two verses we see this name, the name of the king repeated three times. His name is Ahasuerus, and we will see this name appearing again and again in this story. So King Ahasuerus was the king during those time.

Now turn with me again quickly to Ezra, two books in front. Ezra and chapter 4. Ezra chapter 4, let me just read one verse. Ezra 4:6. Ezra 4:6- “Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.” Now see, this same king is mentioned. Ahasuerus, both in Ezra and in Esther, now proving that this is indeed, the timeline that we are looking at. This is the timeline that we are looking at.

And so, with that in mind, with that background in mind, I mentioned in my first point that there is one picture. Now one picture. In fact, the whole book of Esther speaks of this one picture, now one and one picture alone. Now what’s this picture? now this picture is this. It is the picture of redemption. The picture of redemption. In fact, this whole book testifies, just like so many other books in the Bible to the redemptive purpose of God. The redemptive purpose of God. Now you will remember that we have just looked at a beautiful story of redemption in the book of Ruth. And from that point on we moved to another beautiful story of redemption in the book of Esther.

Now see, for those of you who are familiar with this story, you know that the story of Esther is a story of an orphan girl, a nobody who was raised by her only cousin. This cousin is called Mordecai, the one who we believe wrote this book. Now Mordecai is Esther’s cousin, not her uncle by the way. It’s her cousin. And eventually, Esther found favour with the king, King Ahasuerus, and she rose up the ranks and became the eventual queen of the Persian empire. The entire Persian empire. Now you see, it’s interesting to see how she got there. That’s why I said go back and read through the story of Esther.

Now on the one hand here is Esther, a nobody. And on the other hand, there is a man by the name of Haman. Haman, a wicked man. He is a high ranking official in the government courts. And in this story, we came to see that there was one particular incident that caused Haman to be very angry with Esther’s cousin, Mordecai. And he was so angry and so enraged in this particular incident that he not just wanted to kill Mordecai (which is not uncommon during those days). You have power and you have authority, you can do that. He not just wanted to kill Mordecai but he wanted to wipe out or to eliminate Mordecai’s entire race. And so, that was how angry Haman was with Mordecai. Imagine the hatred and the anger.

Now think about it. If he’s so angry like it’s like somebody telling you like I so want to get rid of you that I don’t just want to kill you, I want to kill your entire race, now regardless of whether you are whichever race or Chinese or Indian or Malay et cetera. So that is, that is how angry Haman was with Mordecai. So, to get that sense of it, you turn with me to one verse in Esther and chapter 3. Esther chapter 3, and let’s look at this verse, verse 13. Esther 3:13. Now here’s what is recorded for us. Now it says: “Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate”.

As if destroy was not enough, to destroy and to kill. As if destroy and to kill was not enough, it’s recorded that to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate “all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.” And so, what we see here is a decree, a governmental order as if the Agong is issuing this decree to command the destruction of the Jewish race. And the role of Esther became exceedingly critical in ensuring that this race will not be lost.

Now as I said, Ruth, we’ve seen was a story of redemption. And in Ruth, we saw two widows redeemed. We saw Naomi and Ruth redeemed. Now but in the book of Esther, we see an entire nation redeemed, an entire race redeemed. Now without this one lady, Esther, we can very well say that perhaps today we may have no more Jews in this world today. And so, we want to look at how this unfolds in the weeks to come. But at the outset, again, I say that this entire story is a story of redemption. That is the one picture that this book is speaking about, a picture of redemption. And so have that behind the back of your head as we go through the ten chapters.

Now by this point, what I want us to note is this. Now just like in the book, of Ruth this one picture of redemption did not begin with Esther. It didn’t begin with Haman or Ahasuerus or Mordecai. Where did it begin? Now it began at the beginning. It began at the beginning back in Genesis. So, turn with me to Genesis. Genesis and chapter 3. Genesis chapter 3, we will also look at one verse, and that verse is Genesis 3:15. Genesis 3:15.

Now you see, it’s crucial that as we come to this book we understand- we understand that even though you’ve seen this verse many times before. Genesis 3:15 is known as the protoevangelium, the first gospel. And for a lot of us here, we are familiar, even memorised this verse. But it’s important that we come again and again to Genesis 3:15 because history, whether it’s biblical history or secular history or world history must be read through the lens of this verse. Otherwise, we are prone to get it wrong again and again. So, Genesis 3:15. Now this is what God has said right after the fall.

Genesis 3:15- “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” What is this? Now this is the curse now which God had pronounced on the serpent which is Satan. And throughout history, this is the backdrop to what is happening. This is the background to what is happening. God has told the Satan here after the fall after Satan has deceived the woman and then the woman gave the fruit to Adam, plunging the entire human race into sin.

After the fall, God has said to Satan that yes, you will bruise the heel of the woman’s offspring or the woman’s seed, in reference to the Messiah, the coming Messiah and cause much suffering and much pain to the woman’s seed. But in the final analysis- in the final analysis, Satan, you will be crushed by her seed. You will be crushed by this Messiah. The seed of the woman or the offspring of the woman, the Messiah will come and He will finish you off. He will deal a final blow to crush your head. And you better believe that Satan believed what God has said. Satan believed what God has said.

In fact, it’s said that Satan believed God’s Word probably more than a lot of us here in this hall. Satan trusted that God will do what He promised to do. And therefore, again and again in the Bible, we see attempts by Satan to thwart or to disrupt the plans of God so as to not bring about the seed of the woman, the Saviour of the world, the Messiah. Now what happened after Adam and Eve? Remember what happened right after Adam and Eve. It’s the story of Cain and Abel. And what was the story of Cain and Abel? It’s a story of the first murder in human history.

Now when we read the account of the story of Cain and Abel, we see that you know, Cain was jealous at Abel because Abel’s offering was accepted by God but Cain’s offering was not accepted by God. And he was jealous and he rose up in a field of anger and killed his brother, Abel. And that’s what we see. But in reality, what was happening? In reality, it was Satan working in the heart of Cain to kill his brother Abel with the hope of disrupting the lineage of the coming Messiah. The godly line, Satan would think come from Abel. But again, God had other plans alright. The godly line came from Seth, not from Abel.

And so right from the start of human history we see that Satan took God by His words and wanted to try to disrupt the lineage of the godly line, the seed of the woman. And then you fast forward to Exodus. You turn with me to Exodus chapter 1. Exodus and chapter 1, where we are in the time of the Egyptian enslavement. Exodus chapter 1, we have the Egyptian Pharaoh here who wanted to kill all the male Hebrew child. You look at verse 8.

Exodus 1:8. It says: “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” And so, what’s happening here? Now what we see here is that Pharaoh is afraid that the Hebrew people, the Israelites would grow in number and would one day join the forces of the enemies and overthrow the Egyptians.

And so, Pharaoh said we need to do something. We need to do something. Now what does he do? Verse 15: “Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” Now see what’s happening here? Pharaoh is saying that if a male child is born to the Hebrew people, kill this male child.

So, from the outset we see that it is maybe Pharaoh afraid that he will be overthrown by the Israelites. But actually, what is happening? What is happening is Genesis 3:15 playing out in this scene. It is Satan working in the heart of Pharaoh to you know, to issue this command to try to disrupt the godly line. It’s a male because it is a he, a godly seed. And it is from the line of the Israelites because it has been foretold that the Messiah would come from this line. So here we see again Genesis 3:15 playing out.

Now you fast forward again and turn to the book of Matthew. Matthew and chapter 2. We always like to read this during Christmas, the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus. But don’t forget during this time there was also a king. Now this king’s name is called King Herod. And King Herod was also afraid that he would be overthrown. And in his fear, he heard that there was coming this baby who would overthrow him as king. And in his fear, he summoned the wise men.

Now the story of the wise men, we all are familiar with. He summoned the wise men to find out where this child was. But of course, God had other plans. And the wise man instead of telling him where the child was, they went their way and they left King Herod to himself. Look at verse 16. Matthew 2:16- “Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

Again, we see here is a fearful king, just like Pharaoh, fearful that his throne will be usurp. but what he did was compelled by Satan working in his heart so that he issued this command to kill all male child below two years old at the exact same time, at the exact same place in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. So, if Satan would have succeeded, he would have been able to disrupt the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. Now but of course, we know that God had other plans. God had other plans.

Although Genesis 3:15 is playing out again for us here, God and other plans. And Jesus escaped with Joseph and Mary, fled to Egypt. So, we see this playing out again and again. And in the story of Esther, now there is Satan again using Haman to try to disrupt the lineage which will bring about Jesus, even if it means eliminating an entire race, isn’t it? Now see, whether it is Cain, whether it is Pharaoh, whether it is Haman, whether it is King Herod, now all these men, all these wicked men had their agenda in mind.

Now but behind this plotting lies the devil whom if he succeeds in eliminating the godly line will be able to prevent the coming of Jesus alright. Now but from Scripture we know that all these attempts would come to nothing, it will come to no avail because who is the one in control at the end of the day? God is the One who is in control. God is the One who has omniscience. He knows the future. God is One who has omnipotence. He has all power, not Satan. Satan doesn’t know the future; he doesn’t have all power.

And as Martin Luther said, even the devil is God’s devil. Even the devil is God’s devil. The seed of the woman will come, that’s been prophesied. The seed of the woman will come. And indeed, the seed of the woman has come. Now see, Jesus the God man was born. He lived for us, He died for us, and He is now seated at the right hand of God as our rightful redeemer- as our rightful redeemer. That was foretold, and that has taken place, and that is done. I said redemption has come. Redemption has come.

But from that point onwards from the birth, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ until the end of the age- until the end of the age, the Bible tells us that God is still redeeming. He’s still redeeming. He’s still calling His elect from all four corners of the earth from every tribe and tongue and language and nation. How is He doing that? He’s doing that through the gospel message or the proclamation of the Word. That’s why we preach the Word. We preach the gospel.

And once the last person has been saved. Once the last person of God’s chosen redeemed has been saved, now Jesus will come again. Jesus will come back again. Jesus will return. Make no mistake, that will happen. But the next time He comes back again, He will no longer come back as redeemer. The next time He comes back again; He will come back as judge. He will come back as judge of this world. Now the book of Revelation pictures that day when Jesus comes back as judge, showing us that when He comes back that day He’s going to be like a rider who is coming on a white horse.

So, turn with me to Revelation chapter 19. We looked at Genesis, let’s look at Revelation. Revelation chapter 19. Revelation 19:11. Now here is a picture of that day when Jesus comes back. Revelation 19:11- “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems (or many crowns), and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.”

Now here’s a reference to Jesus, the Word of God.”And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

(Verse 17) Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.”

(Verse 21) And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.” Now see, what is recorded for us here is a very graphic picture of judgement when Jesus returns. See, that is true. I say make no mistake; Jesus will come back again. Genesis 3:15 has prophesied the coming of the Messiah and that has come in great accuracy. Now the Bible also tells us that Jesus is coming back again. Now make no mistake, that will come to pass.

Now one day, all the worldly systems and the worldly things that we have been living for on this earth, all of them will be destroyed. Now it says here one day wicked kings and captains and mighty men, rulers and prime ministers and managers, all these people who reject God, they will be judged and they will be destroyed. So, before the coming of that day, the question that you and I need to ask is this: Are you in God’s one picture of redemption or are you going to experience the white horse judgement?

Now which picture are you in? Are you in this one picture of redemption or are you in this one picture of judgement? Are you redeemed? Can you sing with the hymn writer: Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child and forever I am”? Can you sing that? Are you part of the redeemed before it is too late? This is a question that you must ask and you must answer for yourself. Your parents cannot answer this question for you.

Now they can bring you to church. They can teach you the Bible. But at the end of the day, you have to answer this question for yourself. Your friends, your family, your spouse, your wife, your husband, your children, nobody can answer this question for you. Are you part of this one picture of redemption? Now that is our first point- one picture, picture of redemption. Now from there we move on to our second point, and that is this. One problem. One problem. Now you see, there is one major problem in the book of Esther. One major problem.

Now I’m sure you’re thinking: Now what is this one problem? One problem. Now let me tell you what this one problem is, and it’s this. The problem is where is God? Where is God? That is the one problem. And you ask: What do you mean where is God? Now you see, throughout the entire book of Esther, God is never mentioned once. He’s not mentioned once. Not His name, not His being, not His title, not His person, not even once. Now the king’s name, King Ahasuerus is mentioned some hundred and seventy times in the entire book, but God’s name is mentioned zero times. Zero times.

Now in fact, this is the only book in the entire Bible where the name of God is not found. And so, I think we can understand. Can’t be why some people would say that how can this book be inspired and be part of the sixty-six books, a part of Scripture? You know God is nowhere to be found, nowhere to be seen in all the ten chapters. See, that is the big problem. That is the major problem.

Now maybe this morning that is also your problem. Maybe you are also wondering where is God in my life? When I need Him the most, where is God? Where is God when I failed my final exams again? Where is God when I lost my job during this period of Covid and I have a family to feed and I’m trying to make ends meet? Where is God when my health is failing right now? Where is God when I receive the diagnosis or that report? Now where is God when my family is a mess? Where is God when my father was taken from me at a young age? Where is God when my son was taken from me at a young age? Where is God?

Now God just seems to be absent alright. Does He care? In fact, is He even there? Does He exist? Now you may have questions like this or more. Now see, many theologians and commentators in the past have tried to come up with various reasons to account for the fact as to why the name of God is not in the book of Esther. For example, some commentators have said that see Mordecai, who was believed to be the writer of this book, was actually writing to the Jews in a pagan land. He was writing to the Jews in pagan Persia.

And so, he intentionally left the name of God out so that he can continue to communicate the Word of God and the work of God through Esther so as to not, you know get into any danger or harm so, to preserve himself and to preserve the Jews. So, he intentionally left that out. So that’s one reason that some people give. Now the other reason some commentators would give is that yes, the name of God is not mentioned.

But actually, fasting is mentioned a number of times in this book. The Jews fasted, Esther fasted, now Mordecai fasted. And so, the idea of the presence of fasting seems to indicate that there is a need to call out to God for help. So, there is no explicit need for the mention of the name of God. I mean it’s inherent when you’re fasting, that means you are crying out to God for help. So that’s one other reason. And so many other reasons that are given, but I believe- I believe the best explanation to this one question, now this one problem of where is God is this.

Well, the best explanation to this one problem is our third healing. Our third heading, and that is the one point. The answer to this one problem that permeates the entire book throughout the whole book, we don’t see the name of God is the one point that likewise permeates the entire book, and that is our third healing. So, what is this one point that is pervasive throughout the book of Esther? It’s this. The one point to this one problem of the seemingly absence of God is the providence of God. It is the providence of God. That is that one point.

See, that’s the best explanation to this one problem. Now see, if you’ve been attending GRC for some time, I’m sure you would not be unfamiliar with the mention of this phrase “the providence of God”. You’ve heard that mentioned before. But what does it mean? What does the providence of God actually mean? If someone were to come up to you and ask you can you explain to me what do you mean by the providence of God, how would you say to this person?

Now see, this word ‘providence’ actually comes from the Latin. In fact, it comes from two Latin words. It comes from the word ‘pro’ and the word ‘vide’. So, you add both together is pro-vide. And the word ‘pro’ means before. The word ‘vide’ means to see. So, it is the before-see of God, literally translated. Or in the more understandable English it is the foresight. The foresight of God. Now but the idea here is not that God has some passive knowledge or some foresight of the future as if the future was playing out in front of Him like a movie screen, like He is looking at a movie screen. That’s not the idea.

But rather, the idea conveyed to us here in the Latin is that God is the One who has declared, who has decreed, who has ordained all things in the future. That’s why it will definitely happen. And also, that’s the reason why He knows the future. Now see the difference. The difference here is that God has determined the future. That’s why He knows the future. That’s why we say it’s providence of God. Now the 1689 Confession of Faith, the London Baptist Confession of Faith attempts to help us to define the providence of God. And here’s what it says in this section.

It says the providence of God is this. It is God, the good Creator of all things. It starts with God. God, the good Creator of all things in His infinite power and wisdom (now listen to this) upholds, directs, disposes, and governs all creatures and things. God, the good Creator of all things in His infinite power and wisdom upholds, directs, disposes, and governs all creatures and things from the greatest to the least to the end for which they are created.

Now in summary, God is actively involved in every detail of your life and my life to bring to pass His purposes. Not to bring to pass your purposes or my purposes but to bring to pass His purposes. God is actively involved in every detail of your life and my life to bring to pass His purposes. See from the biggest things in life as to where you were born or when you were born, how you were born, now where will you grow up, which school will you attend, which university will you attend, what work will you do, who would you marry, where will you stay.

Now all these big things in life to the smallest things in life, such like what do you eat this morning for breakfast, now what are you going to eat later for lunch, how do you come to church, where are you sitting, who is sitting beside you, what are you wearing. So, the smallest things in life. From the biggest to the smallest things in life, everything is upheld, disposed, directed, and governed by God. See, God is actively involved. Now that is the providence of God.

If someone once said that God is a micro-manager- God is a micro-manager, and I think that is, that’s quite true in a sense. Now we can say that God is a micro-manager, but we cannot say that God is a watchmaker. He’s not a watchmaker that creates the world and then leaves the world to run on its own. But rather, He is a micro-manager. He’s micromanaging. Or maybe the better term to use is He’s orchestrating. He’s orchestrating the very details and the events and the circumstances in our life for His own glory and for the good of His people. Now that is the providence of God. Providence of God.

And see, the story of Esther is intended to highlight this truth for us. It’s intended to highlight for us the truth of the providence of God. Now in this story, the story of Esther, no temple is mentioned. No high priest is mentioned. No prophet is mentioned. There’s no burnt offering, no sacrifice, no miracle, no mention of God. But despite none of this, I say the whole story almost screams of the name of God. Go back and read the ten chapters and the very involvement of God.

Now God was working. He wasn’t sleeping. He was working. He was not passive, but rather he was active. He was not uninterested. He was deeply interested and he was working intricately in this pagan world through diverse people to fulfil His covenant promises to the people of Israel. Now you see, as I mentioned earlier on the one hand you have an unknown Jewish girl becoming the queen of Persia because of certain events that took place.

And on the other hand, you have Haman, a wicked man, this wicked man who thought his position was forever secured, second only to the king. Forever secure and he began to make proud requests to the people of his kingdom and became so enraged at Mordecai that he was willing to manipulate the king to issue a decree that we saw just now in Esther 3:13 to kill all the Jews. Now bear in mind that this decree actually includes the first wave of exile that has already returned to Jerusalem. They’ve gone back already. Remember it’s between the first and the second wave of exiles.

So, this first wave has gone back to Jerusalem. And there, this decree includes that wave. So that would, I mean all the Jews in the world at that point of time were to be doomed to be destroyed under this one decree. I say to this situation steps Esther and the need for her to intercede on behalf of the Jews with the king that leads to that famous verse that I think if you have (read) the book of Esther, you’ll know in Esther that when Esther said before she was going to meet the king if I perish, I perish. That’s what Esther said.

And we saw that what Esther did not just save an entire race but actually, it turned the tables on this wicked man, Haman himself. Fascinating story. One unknown Jewish girl used to rescue an entire race, now this race that was chosen by God, loved by God, this race to whom the Messiah was prophesied to come. One unknown girl used to rescue this race. Now do you think it’s all a coincidence? Now I submit to you that the answer to this is not coincidence but answer to this must be providence. It’s providence. There’s no other way to answer this question except for the fact that this whole book speaks to the active and divine providence of God.

And so, although God’s name is not mentioned at any page in this whole book, now His hand is clearly visible. His hand is visible. So again, we ask the question: Where is God? Where is God when I needed Him the most? Where is God when I failed my final exams again? Where is God when I lost my job during the pandemic and trying to make ends meet? Where is God when I received my diagnosis, cancer? Where is God when my father was taken from me at a young age? Where is God when my son died? Where is God?

You see, Dr Voddie Baucham in a conference he once said this. He said you asked where is God when your son died. I’ll tell you where God was when your son died, the same place He was when His son died. I tell you where God was when your son died, the same place He was when His son died. I think that is profound. That’s profound because the death of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ was the greatest act of providence that has happened in human history.

You see, it was God that orchestrated all things before the cross including the story of Esther that led to the death of Jesus on the cross. And God is continuing to orchestrate all things after the cross to bring people to faith in the cross. You see that God was there then; He’s still here now and He will always be throughout eternity. So again let me ask: Have you come to faith in Jesus Christ? Have you come to see and to appreciate the greatest act- the greatest act of providence that has ever happened in human history because that is the most important question of all.

Before you even begin to ask all the where is God when this happened and where is God when that happened question, now first you must see the greatest act of God’s providence on the cross because it was this apex or this climax of the providence of God that orchestrated the actions of many, many unrelated parties to put Jesus to the cross that has provided the only way of salvation for sinners like you and me. You must first see that, first see the greatest act of providence on the cross.

And if you have not yet seen that this morning, I urge that you pray that God will open your eyes so that you see that and open your ears so that you hear the truth of this great act of God and your heart will be open to be receptive to seeing the providence of God. First, see the wonder and the beauty of the cross. And then through that perspective- through that perspective, you’ll be able to see the day-to-day providence, active working of God in your life. Whether it’s good things or bad things, small things or big things, we know that God is working. God is working.

He has been working, He’s still working and He will continue to be working, in Romans 8:28, we know that verse and we know that all things work together. All things are not dormant. All things are not left to chance, but all things are working. All things work together for good to those who love God. Now for the Christian, we know that all things may not be good. But you can be assured that God works all things for good. Let me say that again.

Now all things may not be good. Health failure is not good. Cancer is not good. Work failure is not good. Family conflict is not good. Now death is not good. But the comfort and the hope and the assurance that we as Christians can have is that we know that all things are used by God and they will work out for your good and my good. What is that good? That good is the redemption. Go back to the first picture- the redemption, the sanctification, and the final glorification of His children. God is working to save every one of His people and ultimately to see them to heaven. Remember this the next time you wonder where God is. So, one picture, the picture of redemption. One problem, where is God? One point, the providence of God.

Now as I end, let me just read the words of this hymn writer that says this. He says: “The mighty God, Omniscient One! His ways we cannot trace. He reckons every good begun and crowns it with His grace. He’s here and there, and everywhere in all the ways I’ve trod. I’ve never passed beyond the sphere of the providence of God.” Let us pray.

“Our Father in heaven, we’re once again thankful that we have come this morning to see face to face divine truth. Lord, we are thankful for how you have worked throughout history, throughout the lives of the people that have gone before us and you have not ceased to be working even up till this point of time. And the comfort and assurance that we can have as Your people is that You are a God that is actively working for Your glory and for the good of Your people.

Father, help us this morning to have eyes to see that and those of us who belong to You will continue to revel in that assurance that You are our Father in heaven who knows what is best for Your children. For those of us here who have not yet had the opportunity to see that, we pray that You’ll give them eyes to see. Open hard hearts, open deaf ears and blind eyes so that many will come to see the greatest act of providence and that is the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Way for salvation for undeserving sinners like us. So, speak to us. May Your Word convict courage, rebuke us when necessary. Help us again to come to see the great love You have for us through the Lord Jesus Christ. For these, we ask and pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

This transcript has been lightly edited for readability.