We're finishing our 12-week study of the narrative of Esther this week. It has been deep and broad, and we've learned and been reminded of much.
The romanticized version of Esther is no exception to the tendency to view Bible characters as heroes and heroines, to want to emulate their deeds of courage. Then, of course, we are disappointed in their flaws and failings as we try to exonerate them. Still, none of them are righteous in themselves. But this is what happens when we think the account or narrative is about them.
Rather, the entire Bible is about God and how he interacts with man throughout history. It's about how He manifests His attributes and His character, and how He moves history toward the coming of the Redeemer to save us from destruction, and provides salvation for all who believe. We long for someone who has no flaws, whose life is fully lived in righteousness. The One whose likeness we are, indeed, to emulate.
Surely, there are individual people whom God works through to bring about His purposes, flawed people whose faith and struggles we share in our own lives, whose moments of decision we empathize with. And as we're told in Romans 15:4, "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
What instruction have we gained from our study in Esther? Each of us in the group would probably have a similar, yet somewhat different, list of how God has used the book to instruct each of our hearts and minds. For me, these five concepts or principles lead my list:
(1) God saved the Jewish people from annihilation during the time of Esther for the purpose of preserving the lineage of Jesus our Redeemer, to fulfill His Covenant with His people.
(2) God's purposes and plans are never thwarted.
(3) God most often works through human agents (flawed as we are) to fulfill His purposes -- that mysterious interplay of God's providence and human responsibility.
(4) God's providence often involves seemingly insignificant events of which we are usually not even aware.
(5) The narrative of Esther gives significance to working within our realm of daily influence, taking initiative, and working in concert with others of God's children.
The book that we used as a springboard for discussion was Bryan Gregory's Inconspicuous Providence. To read a brief review of the book, just click on the image.
Image ~ Afternoon Tea on the Terrace
Frederick Carl Frieseke, 1874-1939
public domain via Wikigallery
