Bridge to Esther

Esther 1: 1-2

God Is In Control

1. Now it came to pass in the days of King Ahasuerus, often known by his Greek name, Xerxes, (this is King Ahasuerus which reigned, or ruled, all the way from India even unto Ethiopia, a country south of Egypt; reigning over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces, areas in which his large kingdom was divided. Judah was one of those provinces:)

2. That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace, one of the main cities in the Persian Empire. This is the same palace where Nehemiah later served as the king’s cup-bearer. Today, that country is called Iran.

Something to think about:

You are now beginning to read one of the most amazing books of the Bible—a book that never mentions God, not even once! You won’t read about people praying, though at one time they do fast. This book doesn’t specifically teach about heaven or hell or the Lord Jesus.

By now maybe you are wondering, Why would the book of Esther be in the Bible then? Isn’t the Bible a book about God?

Many years ago, a minister named Matthew Henry wrote: “Though the name of God is not found in Esther, the hand of God is seen everywhere. He is controlling the smallest event so that His people Israel would not be killed.”

Through this story of Esther, God is teaching us that He is always in control. Nothing happens ‘just because!’ Everything in our life and in our world takes place because God is making it happen.

The events in our lives may often seem like pieces of a big and difficult puzzle. Maybe you lost your father or mother when you were young, and you wonder, Why did God allow that? Or, you wonder why you were born with a handicap or have difficulty learning. Maybe you don’t understand why your parents don’t love each other anymore; instead of living together, they have divorced. This makes you feel torn apart and confused.

Young people are not the only ones who struggle with questions like these. Even adults who love the Lord sometimes find it difficult to understand God’s ways. But in whatever happens in your life, recall what God is teaching you in this small book of Esther: He is in control. He is on a throne far mightier and more important than that of King Ahasuerus. Not only does God rule over mighty kings, He also rules over young children. Esther lost both of her parents when she was a child. Did God control that? He most certainly did!

God doesn’t expect us to understand everything He does. Instead, He tells us to trust Him—even when things happen that hurt, are confusing or don’t make sense. God is not only almighty; He is also loving and good! He knows what we need or what is better for us to lose. Sometimes He allows troubles in order to catch our attention and draw us to Himself.

Therefore, study this book prayerfully. Ask the Lord for the grace to always trust Him. It is not wrong to tell the Lord that you are hurting, confused or afraid. You may confess that you find it difficult to trust Him. Ask Him to teach you to know and trust Him as you face difficult tasks or go through painful events in your life.