Seeing the invisible

Scripture Read: The Book of Esther

Application: We have just spent two months meditating on the book of Esther. We could spend many, many more and still not exhaust the life lessons that fill it. This book is one of the strong evidences that the Word of God was produced and brought together by God Himself. What man trying to write a book claiming it to be from God would place in it a story where God never is named or mentioned? God has no need or ego to try and prove Himself. He is! Just because we cannot see Him does not mean He is not there, perhaps we are refusing to really look. God’s fingerprints and footprints are all through the book of Esther. As we end this meditation it is good to think through some of the bigger issues that God’s Word brings forth:

We need to understand God's relation to His universe:

1.  Creation - How it came to be – it was not a cosmic gas that produced one giant accident – God designed it in detail – like an artist – even in abstract art, a great artist does not accidently spill his paint. It is planned and developed in the mind of the artist. So it is with our world – God, the Supreme artist enjoyed Himself with the canvas of the universe. No one has ever been more creative, funny, beautiful and precise in their art.

2.  Preservation - How it continues – God sustains it all, even if we do not see Him doing it. Just as in Esther, He moves behind the scenes. We need not fear an ending life on earth, that will be controlled by the Sustainer of all things. Remember also, God does open Himself up to those that seek His help.

3.  Providence - Where it is going and how will it get there. People doubt God because of evil in the world. They mistake His gift of free will as disinterest. If I were God I would never have allowed the choice – therefore there would be no evil, there would be no sin AND there would be no creation that by their own volition could choose to return and experience the richness of a relationship founded in choice. I would only have robots that tell me they love me because that is all they can do! God is God, only He is powerful enough to allow that freedom even though the stench and destruction of sin sickens Him. God’s providence is shown in two ways:

(a) Active: God intervenes directly; Joshua's long day is an example. The greatest though is Christ. We could not save ourselves from sin, so God Himself took on flesh and paid the price of the penalty of sin in full! He leaves to us only to accept or reject, we cannot add to or take away from the sacrifice.

 (b) Passive: God allows and manipulates; Joseph is a good example: His brothers sell him as a slave; he rises to greatness in Egypt; a famine hits Israel; his brothers are sent to buy food and learn that he is alive; he saves God's nation. {Gen 45:4-8}  Later after Jacob's death his brothers thought Joseph might change his mind, but he makes it clear Who was behind all this {Gen 50:15-20}

Micah 5:2 - Luke 2:1-6 – The Place of Christ's birth – God used a census to accomplish His will.

Is this important and if so why? – Answer: No, I just ran out of things to write about! LOL :)

Just consider this:

A. There are no accidents, that’s blind faith or trusting in fate. God’s providence gives purpose to and in everything.

B. This will really open your spiritual eyes:
(1) You will see God behind the scenes: John 19:10-11
(2) You will see that everything does work to good Rom 8:28-29 – If we

love GodHe will work all the circumstances toward what He considers
good. This includes our failures.
(3) You will experience true growth in your trust (faith) in Him. You will 
see everything has a purpose. Understanding it is not the issue,  

accepting it and thanking God for it is!  Thanksgiving is evidence of real 
trust (1 Thess 5:15-18)  (Heb 12:2) (Ecc 3:1-8)

Father, thank You for this wonderful book. I pray that we will continue to take the lessons from it and apply it into our lives.

Tomorrow I am starting 1 Timothy. I try to post one each day, but sometimes due to ministry I do not get to the internet. I am seeking only to encourage all of us to take a pause each day and spend some time with the Lover of our soul. God Bless.