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Does God Care?
By Jeff Reed
It is believed by many in our present world that God does not actively participate in the events and lives of His creation. With scientific advances increasing and a growing reliance on human technology and knowledge, there are many that don’t believe in God at all. Many who believe in God put Him in a far off place. They believe He has stopped being involved in the lives of His creation when they ask, do we see great miracles like the parting of the Red Sea, the Flood, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah? Has anyone seen great miracles like the ones Jesus performed? Has anyone reading this article witnessed the blind receive sight, the deaf hear, or seen anyone raised from the dead? Have any angels appeared to you and made any proclamations? Is there a lack of evidence that God is actively involved in the world? Does God care?
We can find the answers to these difficult questions in a very unlikely place. The book of Esther records the historical events that are commemorated by the Jewish observance of Purim. This book is particularly about one very important event. It is about the Jewish nation’s deliverance from attempted genocide. If this genocide had occurred, then the promise of the Messiah would not have been fulfilled. Jesus was prophesied to be descended from this Jewish nation. It is crucial to God’s plan and purpose that the Jewish nation continued to exist. Without Jesus coming to pay the penalty for our sins, we all would be lost.
The events that occurred in this book look like a series of fortunate coincidences to some. These people look at this book as only history and these series of events as blind chance. They believe this to be so, because this is the only book in the Bible where God is not mentioned. The words “God” or “Lord” simply do not appear. Because of this, these same people question whether this book should be included in the Bible. There are no great signs, wonders, or miracles that occur in the book of Esther. God doesn’t speak to anyone in it or send His angels or prophets to declare His will. But we will see in this story that God cares about His people.
The book begins with King Xerxes giving a great banquet lasting seven days. There is a great description of his opulence. He may have been one of the richest kings ever in the ancient world. During this feast his queen disobeys him, he removes her, and he looks for a replacement queen. This event is the first one that leads to God’s salvation of His people. Just merely reading about this single event you wouldn’t think God had any involvement.
In his search for a replacement queen the king makes a choice, “Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen” (Esther 2:17). Her cousin Mordecai had raised her like his own daughter after the death of her parents. She was Jewish and Mordecai tells her not to reveal her nationality to the King. This is another event that on the surface looks like a fortunate coincidence.
Next, Mordecai uncovers an assassination plot against the king. He overhears two royal guards plotting to kill Xerxes. He happened to be in the right place at the right time. Was this a coincidence or God intervening? “Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai” (Esther 2:22).
In the third chapter of Esther, we are introduced to Haman who is a high official in the king’s court. He devised a plot to exterminate the Jews on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. He has the king pass a law for this very purpose. Mordecai learns of this plot and through correspondence asks Esther to petition the king. By doing this she would be risking her life. “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life” (Esther 4:11). Esther bravely approached the king and was spared.
Esther then invites the king and Haman to a series of banquets. At the final banquet she reveals her true Jewish identity and reveals that Haman has plotted to destroy her people. This infuriates the king and he leaves the banquet in a rage. Haman pleads with the queen for his life and the king returns to find that, “Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, ‘Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?’” (Esther 7:8). Haman is immediately executed. Again, was this only a fortunate coincidence?
Because the king remembers his loyalty in uncovering the assassination attempt, Mordecai is given Haman’s position, which is second in the kingdom. Esther again pleads for her people and the king issues a decree so the Jewish people can defend themselves, saving them from annihilation.
When all these events are viewed together it is clear God is working in the lives of His people. They are not coincidence, but evidence that God cares. I encourage you to read this book, so you can experience all the nuances of this story. You will see that even though no great visible miracles occur, God is working “behind the scenes.”
Look at your own life and the events that have led you to learn about the good news of God and his plan. You will see that it was not mere chance, but that God cares. i
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