The End of the Story (2)

The End of the Story

At the beginning of the series, I said that this would make for a great epic movie (as long as Hollywood didn’t wreck it, like it has done with so many biblical stories turned into movies). All of the elements are here for a great epic.

There is lavish luxury and power - at the heart of the vast kingdom of Persia - the superpower of the day. There is palace intrigue - people with agendas trying to climb to the top. There is a massive crisis, with grave danger - a day of genocide decided for an entire race. There are plot twists along the way - turns that you don’t see coming. There are great reversals - just when you think the future is decided, there is a flip upside down - and the opposite happens.

READ 9:29-10:3

This morning, we come to the end of our journey through this magnificent book in God’s holy word. And what a fantastic story it is. Many comments, over the course of the series - how much you’ve come to love the book of Esther. Rightly so.

Then you have the characters - great characters in this book: Powerful king Ahasuerus - all powerful in his empire and self-consumed. There is the perfect villain that everyone loves to hate: Haman - who just happens to be a descendant of Agag - a historical enemy of God’s people. There is the hero and the heroine - Mordecai the Jew and the cousin that he raised, from time she lost her parents. Foreigners - nobodies as Jews in a land that doesn’t belong to them.

At the beginning of the series, I said that this would make for a great epic movie (as long as Hollywood didn’t wreck it, like it has done with so many biblical stories turned into movies). All of the elements are here for a great epic.

So how have the characters developed at the end of the story? Remember - nobody ever stays the same - the circumstances of life - the choices you make, the people you choose to spend your time with, the decisions about how you will entertain yourself and the things you will dream about and aspire to - - the choices you make in what seem to be the small things - they will shape your character … and you will either become more and more like the child of God that Jesus has saved you to be … or you will become more and more like the world in all of its pathetic emptiness.

brings the king back onto center stage: “King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. (2) And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?”

There is lavish luxury and power - at the heart of the vast kingdom of Persia - the superpower of the day. There is palace intrigue - people with agendas trying to climb to the top. There is a massive crisis, with grave danger - a day of genocide decided for an entire race. The dark specter of death hangs over most of the book. But even with the darkness – there’s humor (Haman – leading Mordecai around on the king’s horse – proclaiming how favored he is by the king). There are plot twists along the way - turns that you don’t see coming. There are great reversals - just when you think the future is decided, there is a flip upside down - and the opposite happens.

Then you have the characters - great characters in this book: Powerful King Ahasuerus - all powerful in his empire and self-consumed. There is the perfect villain that everyone loves to hate: Haman - who just happens to be a descendant of Agag - a historical enemy of God’s people. There is the hero and the heroine - Mordecai the Jew and the cousin that he raised, from time she lost her parents. Foreigners - nobodies as Jews in a land that doesn’t belong to them.

What’s the text telling us about the king? Well, to get an idea - flip back to the very beginning of the book: - “Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces.” See how the first verse of the book emphasizes how vast this king’s empire is. Chapter 10, at the end of the book - takes it even further. He imposed tax ‘on the land and on the coastlands of the sea.” That’s a way of saying - that this king rules over the whole known, inhabited earth. So, what the Bible is telling us is that by the end of the story, Ahasuerus is even more powerful than he was at the beginning. He is imposing tax on the entire known world of the day.

Taxes are never voluntary. Nobody says, “Hey king - I have more money than I know what to do with - and I’d like to give some to you, so you can build another palace and buy another Rolls Royce.” Nobody says that. Kings impose taxes and people pay them because they know the king has power to make their lives miserable - or short - if they don’t pay up.

So how have the characters developed at the end of the story? Remember - nobody ever stays the same – Here this kids – young people. NOBODY EVER STAYS THE SAME in the story of life. The circumstances of life - the choices you make, the people you choose to spend your time with, the decisions about how you will entertain yourself and the things you will dream about and aspire to - - the choices you make in what seem to be the small things - they will shape your character … and you will either become more and more like the child of God that Jesus has saved you to be … or you will become more and more like the world in all of its pathetic emptiness. Let’s look at the characters in the true story of Esther.

King Ahasuerus ends the story more powerful than he began it.

1 KING AHASUERUS

Next character is Haman. Look at v. 2, “And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the kings of Media and Persia? (3) For Mordecai the Jew was second in rand to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews ...”.

brings the king back onto center stage: “King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. (2) And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?”

“Wait a minute,” you say. “I don’t see Haman’s name here!” That’s precisely the point. Haman ISN’T here. But when you see, in v. 3, the Mordecai is second in rank to the king … that’s supposed to remind you of Haman - because that WAS Haman, at the beginning of the story. , “

What’s the text telling us about the king? Well, to get an idea - flip back to the very beginning of the book:

Haman has the position - he has plans for more, because he’s driven by self. When he is insulted by Mordecai refusing to bow and pay homage to him - he becomes driven by bitterness and anger. Remember his schemes. Remember his manipulation, whispering into the king’s ear - plotting a genocide of the Jewish race and rolling the dice to pick the perfect day for it to happen. He gets the king’s approval.

- “… in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces.” See how the first verse of the book emphasizes how vast this king’s empire is. Chapter 10, at the end of the book - takes it even further. He imposed tax ‘on the land and on the coastlands of the sea.” The Bible talks, in other places, about kingdoms that reach to the coastlands of the sea – for one. It’s a way of saying - that this king rules over the whole known, inhabited earth. So, what the Bible is telling us is that by the end of the story, Ahasuerus is even more powerful than he was at the beginning. He is imposing tax on the entire known world of the day.

Halfway through this book - it looks like Haman has won. He’s unstoppable!

Taxes are never voluntary. Nobody says, “Hey king - I have more money than I know what to do with - and I’d like to give some to you, so you can build another palace and buy another Rolls Royce.” Nobody says that. Kings impose taxes and people pay them because they know the king has power to make their lives miserable - or short - if they don’t pay up.

King Ahasuerus ends the story more powerful than he began it.

“But do not be deceived,” the Bible says. “God is not mocked - whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.”

Haman has a date on the calendar, for the holocaust of the Jews, he has a gallows built in his backyard for Mordecai, his most hated of all Jews, to be executed and hoisted onto.

2 HAMAN

Next character is Haman. Look at v. 2, “And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the kings of Media and Persia? (3) For Mordecai the Jew was second in rand to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews ...”.

Everyone here has had a Haman in life ...

“Wait a minute,” you say. “I don’t see Haman’s name here!” That’s precisely the point. Haman ISN’T here. But when you see, in v. 3, that Mordecai is second in rank to the king … that’s supposed to remind you of Haman – because, at the beginning of the story - that WAS Haman.

Well Haman ends up being a real life illustration of

“For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, (18) but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. (19) Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.”

, “King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.”

Haman has the position – and he has plans for more, because he’s driven by self. When he is insulted by Mordecai refusing to bow and pay homage to him - Haman becomes driven by bitterness and anger. Remember his schemes. Remember his manipulation, whispering into the king’s ear - plotting a genocide of the Jewish race and rolling the dice to get direction from his ‘gods’ to pick the perfect day for it to happen. He gets the king’s approval.

Isn’t that a perfect picture of Haman’s life? He spreads a net of genocide for God’s people - runs to

… and he ends up, LITERALLY, tripping over himself and falling on top of the queen, begging for his life, at the very moment the king walks in … and Haman is hung on his own gallows.

Halfway through this book - it looks like Haman has won. He’s unstoppable! Every turn of the story – seems to show this self-absorbed creep getting more and more of what he wants.

“But do not be deceived,” the Bible says – . “God is not mocked - whatever a man sows, that will he also reap.”

Chapter 10 reminds us that, at the very end of the story - Mordecai has been given Haman’s spot. Actually more! Mordecai has grown. Notice , how it points to the power and might of the king ....and in the very next breath - points to Mordecai - “… the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE KINGS OF MEDIA AND PERSIA.”

Haman has a date on the calendar, for the holocaust of the Jews, he has a gallows built in his backyard for Mordecai, his most hated of all Jews, to be executed and hoisted onto.

These ‘Books of the Chronicles of the kings’ are the record books -

Everyone here has had a Haman in life ... If I ask you – who has been a Haman in your life … what image comes to your mind? An image does, doesn’t it?

And the end of the story is telling us that this man who began the story as a lowly, foreign nobody, living in the heart of the most powerful nation in history to that time … is going to have his name mentioned alongside the king - and his records are going to be deposited in the Reagan Presidential library of his day.”

Begins the story as a nobody, raising his cousin - no other family members mentioned.

Well Haman ends up being a real life illustration of

I love how the book ends, in , “For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.”

“For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, (18) but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. (19) Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.”

That’s a character worth copying: This is a man who sacrificially cares for the people of God. The Hebrew word translated into English as “sought” - means ‘to be intent on - to focus, to pursue’ -

Isn’t that a perfect picture of Haman’s life? He spreads a net of genocide for God’s people - runs towards evil …

That’s been Mordecai’s character from the beginning of the story - watching over Esther, day after day going to the king’s gate to check on her, pushing her to get involved and go to the king, when the life of her people is at stake and she’s not sure she wants to get involved.

… and he ends up, LITERALLY, tripping over himself and falling on top of the queen, begging for his life, at the very moment the king walks in … and Haman is hung on his own gallows.

3 MORDECAI

Over and over and over again in this story - Mordecai has been involved in the small things … and look where he ends up.

So important. If somebody asks you what you want to be when you grow up - what would you say? I don’t mean a job or a career - those are important things but they don’t define you - I hope they don’t. A career lasts you 30-40 years maybe and then you’re done. If that’s what defines you - then what’s going to give meaning to your life when retirement comes? No, when I say ‘what you want to be when you grow up’ - I’m talking about character - identity. What is your life going to look like?

Chapter 10 reminds us that, at the very end of the story - Mordecai has been given Haman’s spot. Actually more! Mordecai has grown more important than Haman ever was. Notice

I want to be respected, I want to have integrity, I want to be the kind of person that people come to with their problems, want

So how do you think you get there? There are too many people who act as if there is one great decision that you make in one crisis moment of life - that determines your character. It doesn’t.

Your character is determined by the hundreds of little choices you make every single day: “What will I entertain myself with. When will I spend time with the Lord in His word and in prayer today. What will I put into my body.” Look at Mordecai - faithful in the little things … and God entrusts him with BIG THINGS.

The last person, may be the most important person in the story - Esther. The last reference to her is at the end of chapter 9.

, how it points to the power and might of the king ....and in the very next breath - points to Mordecai - “… the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE KINGS OF MEDIA AND PERSIA.”

Look at , “Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail and Mordecai the Jew, gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim.”

These ‘Books of the Chronicles of the kings’ are the record books -

And the end of the story is telling us that this man who began the story as a lowly, foreign nobody, living in the heart of the most powerful nation in history to that time … is going to have his name mentioned alongside the king - and his records are going to be deposited in the Reagan Presidential library of his day.”

Verse 32, “The COMMAND of Queen Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.”

Here is the greatest transformation of all. This Esther - Hadasseh is her name in her own language. But she’s not at home. Esther is the name she’s given to fit in, here in Persia. Orphaned, raised by her cousin - she’s snatched up and taken away when the king starts a search for a new wife. She spends a whole year in the king’s harem. For all she knows, this could be the place where she lives out the res of her days - with no husband, no children, no family. One night with the king is all she’s guaranteed and if he doesn’t choose her out of ALL the young women from across teh WHOLE of the empire - she will die in the harem. ALONE.

Begins the story as a nobody, raising his cousin - no other family members mentioned – but don’t miss how the book ends, in , “For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.”

But she IS chosen. So when Haman’s edict is sent out, announcing the coming destruction of all the Jews - Mordecai sends word to her - This is your time!

That’s a character worth copying: This is a man who sacrificially cares for the people of God. The Hebrew word translated into English as “sought” - means ‘to be intent on - to focus, to pursue’ -

But it’s dangerous for her to go unannounced into the king’s presence - it means execution if he doesn’t want to see her. She shrinks back. Mordecai won’t let her off the hook - “Who knows but that you have come to royal position FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?!”

That’s been Mordecai’s character from the beginning of the story - watching over Esther, day after day going to the king’s gate to check on her, pushing her to get involved and go to the king, when the life of her people is at stake and she’s not sure she wants to get involved.

Over and over and over again in this story - Mordecai has been involved in the small things … and look where he ends up. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus said that. And Mordecai is an example.

And Esther goes. She calls the people to get on their faces and fast and pray. And she surrenders herself into the Lord’s hands: “IF I perish, I perish.”

Here we are, at the end of the story. Not only has Esther NOT perished. But her people, the people of God have survived - they have just finished celebrating the feast of Purim, that will be observed down through history - celebrating God’s deliverance from sure and certain death. This feast of Purim that has encouraged Jews down through the ages - right into the Nazi holocaust of the last century - a hope to cling to when there seems to be no hope of survival. God will not leave His people.

So important. If somebody asks you what you want to be when you grow up - what would you say? I don’t mean a job or a career - those are important things but they don’t define you - I hope they don’t. A career lasts you 30-40 years maybe and then you’re done. If that’s what defines you - then what’s going to give meaning to your life when retirement comes? No, when I say ‘what you want to be when you grow up’ - I’m talking about character - identity. What is your life going to look like?

“I want to be respected, I want to have integrity, I want to be the kind of person that people come to with their problems, to be the person that people trust. I want my funeral to be full of people who are genuinely sad I’m gone, because my presence made their lives better.” Do you ever think about that?

And here, at the end of the book - in verse 29 of chapter 9, you have not just Esther, but “QUEEN Esther”, giving “… authority”. Verse 32, “commanding … the practices of Purim.” And her word being recorded, ‘In writing.’

The Jewish queen of the Persian Empire, writing commands with royal authority - for the protection of her people in a pagan nation. THAT’S WHAT I CALL TRANSFORMATION and character development.

So how do you think you get there? There are too many people who act as if there is one great decision that you make in one crisis moment of life - that determines your character. It doesn’t.

Your character is determined by the hundreds of little choices you make every single day: “What will I entertain myself with. When will I spend time with the Lord in His word and in prayer today. What will I put into my body.” Look at Mordecai - faithful in the little things … and God entrusts him with BIG THINGS.

So, after all of that recap, let me ask you a question: “Who do you think is the hero of this book?” Obviously not Haman. Not the king. So who? - Mordecai? Esther?

4 ESTHER

ANSWER: NEITHER. Neither Esther nor Mordecai are THE most important people in this book. The

The last person, may be the most important person in the story - Esther. The last reference to her is at the end of chapter 9.

So, who is the main character? Who is the hero of this story? God is. There have been those in history who didn’t think this book should even be in the Bible because God isn’t even mentioned in the whole book of Esther. The NAME of God - Yahweh … isn’t mentioned. The very TITLE ‘God’ doesn’t show up on these pages - not even once. Oh but if there is one thing that I need you to take from our 3 month journey - it is that GOD IS THE HERO OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. His name may not show up - but His fingerprints are all over every page. Every twist and turn of the plot happens because God is SOVEREIGN - in complete control of history - - - and He works out every seemingly insignificant detail, for His glory and for the good of His people.

Look at , “Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail and Mordecai the Jew, gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim.”

And that’s what makes this book of the Bible, so absolutely relevant for us .... HERE. In this society where God’s name isn’t mentioned

If you take one thing from this series, take this: GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL - working out His perfect plan.

Verse 32, “The COMMAND of Queen Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.”

There’s not a single miracle in the entire book of Esther - but there are so, so many events that happen that HAVE to happen, exactly AS they happen, exactly WHEN they happen … or the result will be the extinction of the people of God - - that ‘coincidence’ can’t cover it.

Here is the greatest transformation of all. This Esther - Hadasseh is her name in her own language. But she’s not at home. Esther is the name she’s given to fit in, here in Persia. Orphaned, raised by her cousin - she’s snatched up and taken away when the king starts a search for a new wife. She spends a whole year in the king’s harem. For all she knows, this could be the place where she lives out the res of her days - with no husband, no children, no family. One night with the king is all she’s guaranteed and if he doesn’t choose her out of ALL the young women from across teh WHOLE of the empire - she will die in the harem. ALONE.

Esther just happens to be Jewish, just happens to be beautiful. She just happens to be favored by the king. Mordecai just happens to hear the plot against the king’s life - and sends it through Esther to the king. A report just happens to get recorded in the king’s official records.

But she IS chosen. So when Haman’s edict is sent out, announcing the coming destruction of all the Jews - Mordecai sends word to her - This is your time!

Haman just happens to notice that Mordecai doesn’t bow and just happens to find out that he’s a Jew. When Haman casts the lot - throws the dice - to find the best date to destroy the Jews - the date just happens to be almost a year away, enough time for some kind of rescue.

But it’s dangerous for her to go unannounced into the king’s presence - it means execution if he doesn’t want to see her. She shrinks back. Mordecai won’t let her off the hook - “Who knows but that you have come to royal position FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?!”

And Esther goes. She calls the people to get on their faces and fast and pray. And she surrenders herself into the Lord’s hands: “IF I perish, I perish.”

“The Lot is cast into the lap, but every decision is from the Lord.”

Esther just happens to get the king’s favor when she dares to step into his presence uninvited. It just happens that the king can’t sleep at night and of all the ways to get back to sleep, he asks to be read the boring book of records. It just happens that his servant chooses the very book and chapter and page that tells about Mordecai’s heroic deed. It just so happens that the king is still awake and asks about that one record. It just so happens that Mordecai hasn’t been honored yet and that gives the king reason to contact him and honor him. It just so happens that Haman is on the way into the palace, early in the morning to get permission to execute Mordecai on the gallows in his backyard, and ends up chauffering Mordecai around the city - proclaiming his favor, through gritted teeth.

Here we are, at the end of the story. Not only has Esther NOT perished. But her people, the people of God have survived - they have just finished celebrating the feast of Purim, that will be observed down through history - celebrating God’s deliverance from sure and certain death. This feast of Purim that has encouraged Jews down through the ages - right into the Nazi holocaust of the last century - a hope to cling to when there seems to be no hope of survival. God will not leave His people.

And here, at the end of the book - in verse 29 of chapter 9, you have not just Esther, but “QUEEN Esther”, giving “… authority”. Verse 32, “commanding … the practices of Purim.” And her word being recorded, ‘In writing.’

Haman just happens to trip and fall when he’s begging for his life from Esther - and falls right on top of her -- at the very moment the king walks back into the room - and ends up being executed on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

And Mordecai just happens to be put as second in command in Persia, just in time to rescue his people.

The Jewish queen of the Persian Empire, writing commands with royal authority - for the protection of her people in a pagan nation. THAT’S WHAT I CALL TRANSFORMATION and character development.

5 THE HERO OF THE BOOK

Someone said, “… a coincidence is a miracle in which God prefers to remain anonymous.” The book of Esther is FILLED with miracles, in which God stays anonymous.

This is our life today, Christian. We sometimes bemoan the fact that we don’t see miracles to the extent that they did in Jesus’ day, with the feeding of the 5000, the healing of the blind and broken and the raising of the dead. Oh sure God still does miracles, but we don’t see them very often. And in our society today, He seems so, SO SILENT.

So, after all of that recap, let me ask you a question: “Who do you think is the hero of this book?” Obviously not Haman. Not the king. So who? - Mordecai? Esther?

ANSWER: NEITHER. Neither Esther nor Mordecai are THE most important people in this book.

Esther is written to Christians like us, in a world like ours - to say: “GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE - HE IS SOVEREIGN”. And, He is working out miracle after miracle .... anonymously .... in the every day of your life.

All of those little, seemingly insignificant things in your life - the very place you find yourself today … the relationship that didn’t work out … the health that just won’t cooperate … the job that you have - when it’s not the job you planned for, the school you didn’t make it into … all of these insignificant details … the God who numbers the hairs on your head .... the God who knows when every sparrow falls .... He is sovereignly working out your best through all of them. His anonymous miracles.

So, who is the main character? Who is the hero of this story?

So look around, Christian. Look around.

This book also points forward

No death. No one will age, any longer. No more ‘twilight years’.

Handel’s Messiah: “And He shall reign forever and ever.”

“No condemnation now I dread - Jesus and all in Him is mine.” Wesley

Luther: “Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing ...

If you like stories that end well - you’ll love the story of Jesus. That’s what makes me love the book of Esther.

When it comes to the final scene - things are right. Things end well. I have to be honest, when it comes to movies - I don’t like sad, tragic endings. Some people, who are far more culturally advanced than I am, talk about a movie - and say, “It was so

“I DON’T WANT A CLEVER, TRAGIC TWIST AT THE END. I WANT A HAPPY ENDING!”

I want the bad guy gone. I want evil done away with. I want an ending like Esther!

The book of Esther is a foreshadowing of the great story of Jesus - the surprising sovereignty of God.

Do you see the similarities?

Next week is the beginning of Advent. And the book of Esther also points forward to that — How significant is it that a teenage peasant girl in Nazareth found herself pregnant? If you were her next door neighbour - would you ever, in a million years, think that she was carrying the Son of God, the Savior?

God is. There have been those in history who didn’t think this book should even be in the Bible because God isn’t even mentioned in the whole book of Esther. The NAME of God - Yahweh … isn’t mentioned. The very TITLE ‘God’ doesn’t show up on these pages - not even once. Oh but if there is one thing that I need you to take from our 3 month journey - it is that GOD IS THE HERO OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. His name may not show up - but His fingerprints are all over every page. Every twist and turn of the plot happens because God is SOVEREIGN - in complete control of history - - - and He works out every seemingly insignificant detail, for His glory and for the good of His people.

Unmarried, engaged to a blue-collar carpenter? How significant was it that she didn’t run away in shame, but stayed put. How significant that her fiance married her, but didn’t yet touch her. How significant that back in the capitol of the mighty Roman empire, that Caesar Augustus decreed a census, that drove this newly married peasant couple to their ancestral homeland of Bethlehem - at the very time the baby was born?

How significant that a baby from out of town is born in Bethlehem? It was a small town, but b

Faithful in the small things … and all the while, God is working out His anonymous miracles.

And that’s what makes this book of the Bible, so absolutely relevant for us .... HERE. In this society where God’s name isn’t mentioned

If you take one thing from this series, take this: GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER … ALL - working out His perfect plan in this universe that He SPOKE into Existence.

In the fullness of time, God brought forth his son! Because God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son.

There’s not a single miracle in the entire book of Esther - but there are so, so many events that happen that HAVE to happen, exactly AS they happen, exactly WHEN they happen … or the result will be the extinction of the people of God - - that ‘coincidence’ can’t cover it.

And at the end of the story - - GOD WINS.

Esther just happens to be Jewish, just happens to be beautiful. She just happens to be favored by the king. Mordecai just happens to hear the plot against the king’s life - and sends it through Esther to the king. A report just happens to get recorded in the king’s official records.

Haman just happens to notice that Mordecai doesn’t bow and just happens to find out that he’s a Jew. When Haman casts the lot - throws the dice - to find the best date to destroy the Jews - the date just happens to be almost a year away, enough time for some kind of rescue.

John Flavel: “HE who observes providence will never be long without a providence to observe”. If you thoughtfully trace God’s fingerprints throughout your life .... you will run out of time to take it all in. God’s fingerprints are everywhere over your life, Christian.

“The Lot is cast into the lap, but every decision is from the Lord.”

Esther just happens to get the king’s favor when she dares to step into his presence uninvited. It just happens that the king can’t sleep at night and of all the ways to get back to sleep, he asks to be read the boring book of records. It just happens that his servant chooses the very book and chapter and page that tells about Mordecai’s heroic deed. It just so happens that the king is still awake and asks about that one record. It just so happens that Mordecai hasn’t been honored yet and that gives the king reason to contact him and honor him. It just so happens that Haman is on the way into the palace, early in the morning to get permission to execute Mordecai on the gallows in his backyard, and ends up chauffering Mordecai around the city - proclaiming his favor, through gritted teeth.

Haman just happens to trip and fall when he’s begging for his life from Esther - and falls right on top of her -- at the very moment the king walks back into the room - and ends up being executed on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.

And Mordecai just happens to be put as second in command in Persia, just in time to rescue his people.

Someone said, “… a coincidence is a miracle in which God prefers to remain anonymous.” The book of Esther is FILLED with miracles, in which God stays anonymous.

This is your life today, Christian. We sometimes bemoan the fact that we don’t see miracles to the extent that they did in Jesus’ day, with the feeding of the 5000, the healing of the blind and broken and the raising of the dead. Oh sure God still does miracles, but we don’t see them very often. And in our society today, He seems so, SO SILENT.

Esther is written to Christians like us, in a world like ours - to say: “GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE - HE IS SOVEREIGN”. And, He is working out miracle after miracle .... anonymously .... in the every day of your life.

All of those little, seemingly insignificant things in your life - the very place you find yourself today … the relationship that didn’t work out … the health that just won’t cooperate … the job that you have - when it’s not the job you planned for, the school you didn’t make it into … all of these insignificant details … the God who numbers the hairs on your head .... the God who knows when every sparrow falls .... He is sovereignly working out your best and His glory through all of them. His anonymous miracles.

So look around, Christian. Look around.

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One of the things I love about the book of Esther is that it has a happy ending. When it comes to the final scene - things are right. Things end well. I have to be honest, when it comes to movies - I don’t like sad, tragic endings. Some people, who are far more culturally advanced than I am, talk about a movie - and say, “It was so clever - - I never expected Han Solo’s own son to kill him.”

“I DON’T WANT A CLEVER, TRAGIC TWIST AT THE END. I WANT HAN SOLO TO LIVE - - I WANT A HAPPY ENDING!”

I want the bad guy gone. I want evil done away with. I want an ending like Esther! If I feel that way about a movie – how much MORE do I feel that way about my life?

If you like stories that end well - you’ll love the story of Jesus.