Summary of the Bible in 52 Weeks: 12. Deliverance

For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Esther 4:14 ESV

Esther is an unusual book within the Bible in that it doesn't explicitly mention God. Yet God's unseen handiwork is evident throughout the book, especially through the actions of courageous Queen Esther. God didn't use a miracle to save his people, he used a brave woman.

This verse is Esther's guardian and cousin Mordecai urging her to act on behalf of her people. Implied in his appeal to her to act is an implicit trust in the providence of God to preserve his people. God has promised, and he's faithful, so we can be confident.

Esther didn't feel confident. She knew she wasn't in husband king Xerxes' good books. She knew that genocidal Haman was Xerxes' favoured right hand man.

Despite, or rather because of her misgivings, Esther called her people to fast for her. Then she went ahead and approached the king with his notoriously violent temper and present disregard for her. Thankfully, he chose to favour her and (by her smart manoeuvring) eventually to allow God's people to defend themselves against genocide.

'Sovereign Lord, thank you for your providential care of us. Help us to bravely trust you, even when it's scary to do so. In Jesus' name, amen'. 

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