Plans of the Hidden God

Opening Prayer

Lord, are you there? Can you see that we are here? We think we are ready for whatever plans you have for us, but we carry doubt because you are hidden. We know your Word reminds us to “seek and we shall find,” but how long must we seek? For those that know you Lord and for those that seek you Lord, we wait with patience, faith, and openness to trust whatever is your plan will become our plan. We thank you Lord for your Words given to your Prophet Jeremiah who reminds us that when we call upon you and pray to you that you will hear us, see us, and be with us always. Yes Lord, we are ready for your plans. Amen.

Book of Esther-Short Story

A long time ago, a King named Xerxes ruled over Persia. His queen was a beautiful woman called Vashti. Xerxes wanted to show off Vashti’s beauty to all the men in his court, but Vashti refused. Full of fury, Xerxes banished Vashti from the kingdom and swore he would find a new queen to replace her.

Esther was a young, beautiful Jewish orphan. She was brought up in Persia by her cousin Mordecai after the death of her parents, but he treated her and loved her like a daughter. At that time, there were a lot of Jewish people living as refugees in Persia. Esther was summoned to the palace, along with lots of other young women, for the King to select his new bride. Before she left, Mordecai made her promise not to reveal the fact she was a Jew.

Esther went to the palace and, transfixed by her beauty, King Xerxes fell deeply in love with her. And so, Esther became the next Queen of Persia.

Not long after, Mordecai was at the King’s Gate one day and overheard two palace officers plotting to kill the Xerxes. He sent a warning to Xerxes and saved his life. In recognition of this great service, Xerxes had Mordecai’s name written in the Royal Record Book.

But Mordecai wasn’t popular with everyone at the palace. Five years after adding Mordecai’s name to the Book, Xerxes appointed a new advisor called Haman. Haman hated Mordecai. When he was appointed, Haman ordered everyone to bow down to him but Mordecai refused.Haman was furious and resolved to get his revenge on Mordecai and all the Jews as well.

Haman tricked King Xerxes into passing a law that sentenced Mordecai and every other Jew in Persia to death on a certain date - the thirteenth day in the Month of Adar.

When Mordecai heard of this, he asked Esther to reveal the fact that she was Jewish to the Xerxes and to ask him to stop Haman’s law. Esther was very nervous - if she revealed her Jewish identity to the King, she could end up being executed herself. It was also forbidden at the time for anyone, including the Queen, to approach the King. Xerxes could have her arrested just for that. But Mordecai told Esther she had been placed close to the King for this very purpose - to save the Jews. So, Esther hatched a plan. She decided to invite both the King and Haman to a banquet the next day.

But Haman was impatient for revenge. He accepted the invitation and then had a gallows erected. At Esther’s banquet, he planned to ask the King if he could have Mordecai hanged immediately.

But that night, King Xerxes couldn’t sleep. To pass the time, he asked a servant to read the Royal Record Book to him. When the servant read Mordecai’s name, Xerxes realised he’d never rewarded him for saving his life. In the morning, he idly asked Haman, ‘What should be done for a man the King delights to honour?’ Haman thought the King was talking about him, coyly asking what kind of rewards Haman himself would enjoy. Haman had a long list of all the honours he believed he was owed and spent a long time describing them.

The King thought these honours sounded great… and ordered Haman to organize them for Mordecai. Mordecai was given the King’s own robes to wear and the King’s own horse to ride - Haman was made to lead him through the streets. Haman felt humiliated and very angry.

And then it was time for the banquet. The King enjoyed himself so much that he agreed to grant Esther any request she made. In fact, the King said that Esther could request anything up to one-half the kingdom. This was Esther’s chance. She told Xerxes about Haman’s plot to kill her people and asked him to save them. Xerxes was furious. He ordered his guards to seize Haman and called for his execution.

That was the end of Haman. It was impossible to revoke laws made by the royal office, so instead, Xerxes passed a new law, protecting the Jews from the terrible fate Haman had planned. Mordecai took Haman’s place as the King’s chief advisor.

Story of Purim

Purim is a celebration, like many Jewish celebrations, like Passover and Hanuka, that celebrates God’s plan to save the Jewish people from destruction. It is true, that Jews as well have Christians and Muslims have suffered massive casualties throughout history. However, the hidden God does come through at times and when that happens the Jews celebrate.

This year the Purim Celebration occurred around the time of Easter, the day of Christ’s Resurrection which is also a time to celebrate. More about that in a moment. For now Sandra Becker will present the plan of Purim and how it is best celebrated today.

SONG: AL HANISSIM (Concerning the Miracles)

[We thank You G‑d] For the miracles, the redemption, the mighty acts, the saving acts and for the wonders that You have done for our fathers, in those days at this time.

https://www.chabad.org/797126

Transliteration:

Al hanissim v’al hapurkan

AL_ HA NEES SEEM_ VEE AL_ HA PUR KUN

V’al hagvurot V’al hot’shuot VEE AL_HA VU ROTE_VEE AL_HA SHOO OAT

V’al hanifla’ot she’asita la’avoteinu VEEAL HA NIFLA OAT_SHEA SEATA_LAVO TAY NEW

Bayamim hahem bizman hazeh

BUY YA MEAN_HA HEAM_BIZ MON_HA ZEH

Sermon

Everyone likes a celebration. It is fun to celebrate successes and positive changes in situations that make us happy. Too much of life can be difficult, filled with disappointment, struggles, and pain. We have all heard the expression: No pain, No gain. That is a difficult phrase to accept. When I ran track in High School, I would ache after a long distance run since I was a sprinter and could only run fast for short distances. The pain of running long distances did nothing for the gain I needed to run fast. At some point I realized that pain I experienced was good for building up muscle so I could run even faster. When we are in pain, any kind of pain, emotional or physical, we see nothing of benefit at the moment.

The plans of the hidden God does not mean God hides his plans; it only means that he will reveal his plans, not by our desires and will, but by His. One important to know about the Esther story is that there was no mention of God. In fact, the Book of Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not mention God, not even once. But when study the Book of Esther, you know that God is there. True, he is hidden. How do I know God was there, other than the fact that the story of Esther is in the Old Testament? God is there when Queen Esther had decided to go to King Xerxes and to ask for the decree to be abolished that Haman got the King to sign to destroy the Jews.

In Esther 4:16 “16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.””

This is what trusting in the will of God is: surrender to what is needed to be done. God’s plan for Queen Esther was hidden. Perhaps we can agree that God in hiding put that mission on Esther undo the madness of the plan to annihilate the Jews.

Esther surrenders to what must be done, just as Paul explains what must be done to complete God’s plan for Jesus. In Acts 20:24

Acts 20:24 ESV

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul's life, like Esther’s life would become nothing if they did not yield to a purpose greater than their own. Paul in Philippians 1:21

Philippians 1:21 ESV

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

and Philippians 3:8

Philippians 3:8 ESV

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

As we celebrated the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter, we know that he left unfinished business, not for His life, but for ours. The plan is now revealed in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalm from the Old Testament of the Jews and Jesus says in Luke 24:44 “44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written...must be fulfilled.””

Queen Esther and Jesus have at least one thing in common: they fulfilled the plans of the Hidden God. With Christ’s Resurrection, all plans will unfold for us in spectacular and glorious ways. Plans of the Hidden God will come out of hiding. Amen.

Luke 24:44–49 ESV

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”