God's Provision for His People

Esther  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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God Provides Rescue
Esther is the story of a doomed people, totally defenceless as they face extinction. Through means that the world would call coincidence the God redeems them because he has chosen them.
This all began with a covenant that God made with a man named Abram in Genesis 12:1-3
The people did not deserve to be rescued, nor did they choose their means of salvation, but God saved them.
God provided their rescue! Because He is faithful to his Word!
God Provides Hope
Not only were the people a defenceless people, but they were a hopeless people.
Jewish people lived in 127 different provinces across the Persian & Medes Empire.
They had no leader, no king, no defender, no army, no protector. Totally hopeless.
Yet, through these number of years in the book of Esther and through these events, God provided hope! God provided someone to stand in the gap for them. God provided a Queen, but he also provided one that served like a king.
Esther gives hope
Esther 9:29 identifies Esther as “Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail.”
Esther 9:29 ESV
Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim.
This is significant:
She is Queen - a Persian position with little authority.
Daughter of Abihail - her Jewish heritage.
The title in Esther 9:29 combines her Jewish identity with her Persian identity. The Jewish people now have someone in a position of power to look to.
Mordecai gives hope
Esther is not mentioned in chapter 10. Rather, the book ends singing the praises of Mordecai.
Mordecai takes the position of power and authority that Haman once held.
He is not the King of Persia nor the King of Israel, but the power that he holds makes him effectively, the king. Does not have title, but he has the authority.
This is significant because Israel had no king, no leadership.
Esther 10:3
Esther 10:3 ESV
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.
God gave the people a man to lead them and look out for their welfare.
God Provides Peace
Troubled time
The Jews lived in a land that was not their own, with people who didn’t believe like them, and didn’t recognize the God that they worshipped or served. Sound familiar?
They had enemies across the street and enemies in the government.
Religious liberty had been stripped when they were taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar.
It was a tough time to say the least.
In fact, there were some that were probably wishing the good old days would come back, when David was in power. Some were saying, “It’s getting bad!”
God provided a man to speak peace to them, in a time when peace was exactly what their troubled hearts needed.
God Provides a Better Mordecai
Here’s the deal though: As great as Mordecai was he was only a foreshadowing of one far greater yet to come.
Mordecai was great, but not superb. The people got a taste of the goodness and greatness of God. There is a better one to come.
Jesus is our Savior
Jesus is a better deliverer and savior than Esther or Mordecai could ever be.
He is as unlikely a savior as the young Jewish orphan Esther.
He too comes from humble beginnings.
And in an unexpected way, Jesus rescues his people.
Jesus is our Hope
We are a hopeless and defenseless people. Romans 3:23 tells us that we fall short of the glory of God!
Romans 3:23 ESV
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
We cannot rescue ourselves from certain death, but God sent Jesus, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Romans 5:8 ESV
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus gives us hope in an utterly hopeless world!
This Christmas, Christians should be the most hopeful people!
I know we have to wear masks! I know we are in the midst of political chaos and confusion, but we have more reason than anyone else to be hopeful!
Don’t be a negative nancy! Don’t be doom and gloom during this extremely hopeful season of the year! You should have so much hope in Christ that people notice that your behavior is abnormal. They should want to ask you why you are so hopeful!
Jesus is our Peace
Tell them it is because of the peace of Christ that rules your heart! Colossians 3:15
Colossians 3:15 ESV
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Peace doesn’t make sense right now though. There is no peace.
We are politically divided and have no peace.
We are racially divided and we still see riots and hatred spewing.
We are even sexually divided.
How can you have peace? It doesn’t make sense.
It doesn’t have to make sense! I have a peace that surpasses all understanding! Philippians 4:7
Philippians 4:7 ESV
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It’s peace that came through a baby born in a cattle stall 2,000 years ago! His peace rules and reigns in my heart!
Conclusion:
As we enter into the Christmas season, I implore you to live like you believe that Christ truly rules and reigns.
Live like he has saved you!
Live like he is sovereign
Live like he is King
Live like you have hope!
Live with peace!
Live like Christ will hold you and keep you, no matter what trials, no matter what persecutions may come. He will hold me fast.
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