Esther

Bottomline: God is present and at work even we don’t ask him.

Let’s describe what providence is not. Providence does not mean that we have no free will. God’s providence does not rule out human freedom. Providence is not opposed to cooperation with God. Providence does not mean we are “off the hook” or that we have no sense of responsibility when it comes to spiritual growth. Rather, we cooperate with God as we grow in our faith by practicing spiritual disciplines, or the “means of grace.”

providence is the activity of God working out God’s redemptive plans for his creation

Just because you don’t see God, doesn’t mean He is not moving.

God keeps His promises even when people don’t keep theirs.

Esther is set over 100 years after the babalonian exile

not every Jew choose to go back to Jerusalem

Jewish community in Susa=Persian captial

-God is never mentioned

-King is showing off his wealth and power

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Even if you forget about God, God will never forget about you.

Isaiah

The New International Version (Chapter 49)

15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breastand have no compassion on the child she has borne?Though she may forget,I will not forget you!16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

2 peter

The New International Version (Chapter 3)

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

When you feel like God is absent, look for His activity.

God will use whatever we have to help accomplish His mission.

God will put us in places and positions, for his purposes.

proverbs

The New International Version (Chapter 16)

9 In their hearts humans plan their course,but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs

The New International Version (Chapter 19)

21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

God’s providence will always push for redemption.

Romans

The New International Version (Chapter 5)

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God’s grace is bigger than our circumstances, unfaithfulness, and actions. It is dependent on His love and His work. And it is already done.

Ephesians 2

The New International Version (Chapter 2)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh m and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Mercy is not getting what you desire. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.

In fact, by never mentioning God and simultaneously conveying the events with perfect literary symmetry the author is making a profound theological point showing us that God’s providence is at work in everything to save and deliver his people. It’s a technique meant to push you, the reader, to explore God’s providence even in the darkest moments of history. It invites you to see how God can and does work in the real mess and moral ambiguity of human history to accomplish his divine purposes.