Work done while you Wait

I saw a plaque in my mechanic’s shop last time we took the van in. And, for a man to take his car to the mechanic, he’s having to admit some things. There’s a problem. I don’t know how to fix it. And I need someone else to fix it for me.

Esther 5

The key to understanding the book of Esther is that

God is faithful to save His people, even in the midst of their wandering and disobedience.

God is doing a lot of behind the scenes work here, and we don’t see a lot of it happening. And the same God who was at work behind the scenes in the story of Esther’s life, is the same God who is at work today.

And by His grace, He even enlists us, as human beings, to help bring about His will.

One of the most amazing days that you will ever have, and please, please listen to me, pay attention on this one.

One of the most exhilarating, mind blowing LIFE CHANGING days you are ever going to have is the day YOU realize that God has you on this earth for a purpose. That as we read in Ephesians Chapter 2, that GOD has prepared good works for YOU……

Please understand, you are not a mistake. You are not here by accident, or happenstance, or coincidence, because that doesn’t exist.

You were designed by THE DESIGNER, you were made by THE MAKER, you are a masterpiece MADE by the Master, for….HIs. Good. Work. One of the most amazing days of your life is when you realize that.

Another, and even more exhilarating day is when you realize WHAT that is.

And throughout our lives, we’re going to come to times when, as God is shaping us, and as He’s taking us down this pathway, this roadway of good works, He’s going to lay out things in front of us to do.

Knowing God’s will involves not only knowing what to do, but when to do it.

In fact, it involves knowing HOW to go about it. It involves knowing WHO should be involved. There are some huge moving pieces here, but two of the most important are what we should do. And when we should do it.

And that’s important because, what we see in Esther, is this clockwork, this intricate plan that had been put into motion. We see things happening, we see these strands hanging out there like

Esther didn’t seek personal enrichment when she was called to come before the king; you don’t hear much about that, other than this little tiny footnote in Esther 2:15 where it says she was winning favor in the eyes of everyone.

Mordecai didn’t seek to be honored when he saved the kings life, but in 2:23, the chapter ends by telling us that even if the king didn’t think about it much, it was noted that it was MORDECAI that saved the king’s life.

We’re going to see tonight that there’s another little strand that gets left out there, and interestingly enough, it’s HAMAN who has a hand in making one of the most dramatic turns of the story to come to pass.

God is moving in the silent moments when we don’t see anything happening.

And in this moment, when this plot by Haman has been revealed, when Esther has been confronted by Mordecai, and has said, “Okay, I’ll talk to the king. If I die, I die.”

So if you’ve got your Bibles opened to Esther chapter 5, we’ll read in verse 1.

5:1-3

See, here is where I would have said, hey your boy Haman is trying to kill me, and all my people. Could you like….maybe not let that happen?

But see, like we just said, Knowing God’s will is knowing what you should do….and when you should do it.

And in this case, Esther even brought Haman into the loop. And see, something that we see here is that Esther, who knew what to do. Had also learned when was the best time to do it.

Esther had learned to wait.

5:4-6

This was an invitation. This was a blank check. He was saying,your own personal desire, something just for you. You can have it. And something that you want to see done differently in my kingdom, do it. You can have it. THIS would be an INCREDIBLE time for her to ask……but. She’d learned to wait.

5:7-8

This isn’t abdication. It’s not even procrastination. This is, I have a concrete timeline. I just want this thing to happen first.

So. Esther pauses here for a minute. The account continues, and it’s not talking about her, we don’t hear from her again for a whole CHAPTER!!! She’s waiting in this moment. She’s holding back. I’m sure there’s excitement. I’m sure there’s a hopeful expectation.

And some of you are right there. And if you’re not right there, you’re going to be there sooner or later, because I’ve never. EVER seen ANYONE, not in Scripture, not in other biographies I’ve read, I’ve never seen anyone that I’ve ever personally met….I’ve never seen ANYONE……who didn’t end up needing to wait on the Lord.

You’re somewhere in between 5:8 and 7:3. And God hasn’t checked in on you. And you haven’t heard a new word from Him. And you don’t have any new instruction from Him, and you’re just there…… and while you’re there. Not if, but WHEN you’re there. I need you to do me a favor, and not just me, but do yourself a favor.

Trust that God is working while you’re waiting.

And this is an active thing. Because this involves quieting my heart. And hushing the voices that would call for haste and for heedless action. This involves me reminding myself of when God has been faithful.

Looking back at those times when He’s come through. KNOWING that He’s working……while I’m waiting.

Here’s how you can know you’re waiting on God and not just procrastinating.

Do I have peace, or am I running from what God wants me to do?

While Ester is waiting, God is working in this situation, and He uses to me the most enigmatic people to work through - Haman. And as we’re reading what happens, I want his life to serve as a warning for us.

5:9-12

God uses the proud, but He works with the humble. (Pro 3:34; James 4:6)

A guitarist will tune and polish his guitar, but he throws away the old strings.

5:13-14

And this is one of those interesting details that's just left out there. There’s no resolution to this. This…..75 foot tall spike is just…..literally there in front of everyone. It was something that was visible to everyone in the city, EVERYONE knew it was there, and anybody who knew Haman knew what it was for.

Trust that God is working while the enemy is threatening.

Some questions to ask

Have I sought God’s timing

Have I brought in other people to pray with me

Is my ego involved?

Is this patience or is this procrastination?

Is this zeal, or is this haste?

Understand that God works in your patience more than He works in your haste.