Ester 3
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Ester 3
Wiersbe writes... I doubt that Hathach realized what an important part he was playing in God’s plan to defeat Haman and save the Jews. So often in the work of the Lord, He uses obscure people to accomplish important tasks. What was the name of the lad who gave Jesus his loaves and fishes? Who were the men who rescued Paul by lifting him over that Damascus wall in a basket? What was the name of the little servant girl who told Naaman to go see the prophet? We don’t know, but God used these people to accomplish His purposes. As great doors can swing upon small hinges, so great events can turn upon the deeds of “small” and sometimes anonymous people.
Ester 3
Wiersbe writes that God will accomplish His sovereign purposes even if His servants refuse to obey His will! Dr. A. W. Tozer compared God’s sovereign purposes to an ocean liner, leaving New York City, bound for Liverpool, England. The people on board the ship are free to do as they please, but they aren’t free to change the course of the ship. “The mighty liner of God’s sovereign design keeps its steady course over the sea of history,” wrote Dr. Tozer. “God moves undisturbed and unhindered toward the fulfillment of those eternal purposes which He purposed in Christ Jesus before the world began” (The Knowledge of the Holy, p. 118). Relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place - This is a reference to Divine providence expresses Mordecai's confidence. Where would such confidence have been obtained? While we cannot be absolutely dogmatic, it is reasonable to consider that the books of Moses had been written and Mordecai was familiar with God's promises to guard over the Jewish people. In Genesis 12:3 God promises Abraham that "the one who curses you I will curse." In Genesis 13:14-16 the LORD promises Abraham that He would give all the land (that could be seen north, south, east and west) "to you and to your descendants forever." In Jeremiah 31, in the context of promising the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34) God makes an additional promise... Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for light by day, and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is His name: "If this fixed order departs From before Me," declares the LORD, "Then the offspring of Israel also shall cease From being a nation before Me forever." Thus says the LORD, "If the heavens above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out below, Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel For all that they have done," declares the LORD. (Jer 31:35-37) In Ezekiel 37 God promises... And say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms. 23 "And they will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God. 24 "And My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in My ordinances, and keep My statutes, and observe them. 25 "And they shall live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons, and their sons' sons, forever; and David My servant shall be their prince forever. 26 "And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. 27 "My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 28 "And the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever."'" (Ezekiel 37:21-28) Who knows - Although this does not mention God's name, this phrase clearly is "God language" (Criswell) Some suggest this may be an allusion to Joel 2:14 which also refers to relief from judgment. You have not attained royalty for such a time as this - How? God's providential workings behind the scenes. This statement reminds us of Joseph's declaration to his brothers... As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. (Ge 50:20) Play Marty and Misha's beautiful song in honor of Esther's courage... For Such a Time as This Ferguson writes that... God works through human instruments but if they disobey, He will work through others. Man's disobedience will never defeat the settled purposes of God.