It’s all about God. Life is all about God. You might’ve thought the book of Esther was all about Esther, but it’s actually all about God! While the players in Esther’s story—Mordecai, Haman, King Xerxes, and Queen Esther herself—provide us with powerful lessons about self-control, humility, pride, anger, and selfishness, the ultimate lesson is about the faithfulness and sovereignty of God. In the final chapters of Esther, we see how the tables are turned on Haman and how the Jewish people defeat their enemies and are rescued from slaughter. Victory for God’s people! The Jewish holiday of Purim is a celebration of this deliverance for the Jews. As God’s daughters today, we aren’t likely engaged in physical war, but we can celebrate a similar kind of rescue and victory.
Christ is your Deliverer! He has written, signed, and sealed an edict that says you can have victory over the law of sin and death. He has issued a decree that spells your freedom. (Esther: Trusting God’s Plan, p. 82)
Because of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross, we can be delivered from the law of sin and death—delivered into freedom.
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. (Rom. 7:24–25) For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Rom. 8:2)
Praise God! That’s cause for celebration!
As we seek to remember and celebrate the deeds of God, we anticipate that coming celebration when the battle will be completely over. God will triumph over all His enemies, and we will enter into eternal joy, feasting, and celebration. (Esther: Trusting God’s Plan, p. 88)
I can’t wait for that day.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Rev. 21:1–5)
The book of Esther provides a picture of God’s protection and deliverance, and we can look back at this account with hope while we look forward to the day of God’s final victory—the ultimate deliverance of His people when there is no more death, no more pain, no more of the enemy’s threats. That is God’s plan. And we can trust it.
Let’s Go Deeper
Hit play on this last Women of the Bible Esther video: Then write down these seven truths that we’ve discovered in the book of Esther:
- You are in a battle.
- God has a sovereign plan.
- You are part of God’s plan.
- God’s plan will never fail.
- It’s a beautiful thing to live under God’s caring providence.
- There is no situation so desperate God cannot redeem it.
- Don’t judge the outcome of the battle by the way things look right now.
Take a few moments to journal your answer to this question: As you’ve studied Esther’s story, how has your story come into clearer focus? How have you grown in placing your hope and trust in God’s providence as He orchestrates every detail of our lives and of this universe? I’ve loved journeying through Esther: Trusting God’s Plan with you! God has blown me away with faith to keep trusting His timing and His work, even if things look dark right now. Don’t lose hope, friend. He loves you, and He is writing your story.