God’s Silent Sending of Esther
Esther 1:19, 2:15, 4:14, 8:5-8, Psalm 75:6-7
Sometimes we interpret God’s silence as His absence. When it doesn’t feel like He is hearing our prayers, reading the can Word feels dull, circumstances aren’t ideal, or life feels blah… We can correlate that to God being absent from life rather than Him being silent. “God, where are you?” and “How do you want to use me?” are some big questions that can be thrown out as we wrestle with His silence. If there is one thing that the Book of Esther shows us is just because God is silent, it doesn't mean He’s absent.
This book is the only book in the Bible that doesn’t mention God by name! Just because God isn’t mentioned doesn’t mean that He isn’t the one writing this story. In fact, if we read with intentionality, the details of this story will begin to express God’s provision in bringing specific people to specific places for such a time as this (Esther 4:14).
The story of Esther is one of great courage, influence, and God using specific people for His purposes. An orphan girl (Esther) finds herself as the new queen of a large nation. 400 women were brought in to be considered queen, and Esther was the one who found favor with King Ahasuerus. A Jewish girl was selected to reign, and God had plans to use her to save the Jewish people in this kingdom. God uses the ignorance of King Ahasuerus, the pride of Haman, the influence of eunuchs, the conviction of Mordecai, and the faith of Esther to save the Jews. Just because God wasn’t mentioned doesn’t mean He was absent. God is in all and working through all! As this Psalm proclaims;
“For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment putting down one and lifting up another” (Psalm 75:6-7).
God is faithful to send His people for His purposes. In the story of Esther, God granted her favor through her boldness. Esther never questioned where God was working in the midst of this story but instead continued to walk in faith and act in faith.
Where have you been tempted to believe God is absent from your life?
How can you believe that God’s presence is never far from you?
Who can you share this with to help you walk in the belief of where God has you?
