“My name is King Xerxes, King of Persia. I am the oldest son of Darius the Great and the grandson of Cyrus the Great! (In case you don’t remember my grandfather was the builder of the Persian Empire.)  While I led armies consisting of men from 50 nations, my naval brigade was defeated by the Greeks and my conquest of Europe was never achieved.  At the time of the accounts written in the book of Esther, most of my military engagements were behind me.  As King, I retired to my palaces in Persia with the riches deserving of a king.  It’s been 100 years since the end of the Jew’s forced exile to Babylon.  All these years later many Jews choose to remain here in Persia.  Though different people groups intermingle in the provinces, arguments, discrimination, and fights continue beyond the exile.”

The book of Esther is unique from the other 65 books of the Bible in that God is not named or mentioned in the entire book.  How can that be?  As we will see in the book of Esther, the absence of the name of God does not mean the absence of the hand of God. Far from it.  This week, as we read through the book of Esther, we will see the role of God’s providence and sovereignty over a king, a nation, a government, and a people.

Sometimes we think God only cares and acts on behalf of faithful, upstanding, moral people who follow God’s Word.  In Esther, we don’t necessarily see anyone meeting that criteria.  Yet God shows us His sovereign hand by working through the courage of an individual, reversing a King’s direction, and protecting His chosen people.

As a Christian, do you feel like you fall short when compared to other Christians around you?  Do you feel far from God?  Through the book of Esther, I hope you will discover that as a child of God, God’s hand (His providence and sovereignty) is always on you and for you.