God’s Providence and Courage in Esther’s Story

The story of Esther is a powerful reminder that God is always at work, even when His presence is not obvious. In the book of Esther, God’s name is never mentioned, yet His providence is woven through every detail, every coincidence, and every reversal of fortune. The events that seem random or even tragic—Esther’s forced entry into the king’s court, the timing of Haman’s decree, the king’s shifting affections—are all part of a larger tapestry that God is orchestrating for the deliverance of His people.

Esther’s story is set in a time when the Jewish people are in exile, far from home, and facing annihilation. The narrative invites us to consider how God works not just through the obviously faithful, like Daniel, but also through those who are reluctant, hidden, or even morally ambiguous. Esther begins her journey by hiding her identity and blending in, but when the crisis comes, she is called to step forward, risk everything, and identify herself with God’s people. Her courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act for the sake of others, even at great personal cost.

The providence of God does not negate the need for human action. Esther’s choices matter. She chooses to gather her community, to fast, to seek wisdom, and ultimately to speak up. Her story teaches us that faithfulness often looks like small, difficult steps taken in uncertainty, trusting that God is arranging the details we cannot see. The turning point for Esther—and for us—comes when we are willing to be known as God’s people, to step out of hiding, and to trust that our lives are part of a greater story.

Esther’s deliverance points forward to Jesus, who faced the ultimate choice between self-preservation and the good of others. Jesus, like Esther, chose to lay down His life for the deliverance of His people. But unlike Esther, Jesus’ sacrifice was not spared; He went to the cross so that we might be set free from sin and death. In Christ, we see the fulfillment of God’s hidden providence—His love working through history, through ordinary people, and through us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s providence is often hidden but certain God is always at work, even when we cannot see Him or name His presence. The book of Esther shows us that what appears to be coincidence or luck is often the careful arrangement of God’s hand. Our lives, too, are full of moments that only later reveal God’s purpose and care. Trusting in His hidden providence gives us hope in uncertainty. [52:30]
• 2. Faithfulness requires both trust and action Esther’s story reminds us that God’s sovereignty does not excuse us from making hard choices. We are called to act, to speak, and to risk for the sake of others, even when the outcome is unclear. True faithfulness is not passive; it is a partnership with God’s purposes, requiring courage and obedience in the face of fear. [63:37]
• 3. Identity in God’s people brings transformation Esther’s turning point comes when she stops hiding and publicly identifies with her people. There is spiritual growth and transformation when we step out and declare our allegiance to Christ, especially when it is costly or uncomfortable. These moments of public faith—whether through baptism, membership, or daily witness—shape us and deepen our trust in God. [67:29]
• 4. Jesus is the greater deliverer The story of Esther ultimately points us to Jesus, who chose the good of others over His own safety. While Esther’s courage saved her people from temporal danger, Jesus’ sacrifice delivers us from sin and death forever. In Him, we see the fullness of God’s providence and love, and we are invited to trust Him with our own stories. [71:14]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [33:31] - “Be Still My Soul” Worship
• [37:07] - Doxology and Prayer of Confession
• [38:45] - Assurance of Forgiveness
• [39:19] - Interactive Introduction
• [39:53] - Scripture Reading: Esther 4
• [43:01] - Opening Prayer
• [43:44] - Family Stories and SNL Analogy
• [45:37] - God as the Arranger Behind the Scenes
• [46:16] - Esther in the Story of Exile
• [48:05] - How Should We View Esther?
• [49:58] - Esther Compared to Moses
• [51:09] - God’s Hidden Presence in Esther
• [52:30] - God’s Providence in Coincidences
• [53:42] - The Story’s Dark Realities
• [56:10] - Haman’s Plot and Passover Timing
• [59:23] - Esther and Mordecai’s Response
• [61:12] - Mordecai’s Theological High Point
• [63:37] - God’s Work in Our Ordinary Lives
• [64:17] - Esther’s Risk and Decision
• [66:53] - The Power of Community and Identity
• [70:35] - Esther Points to Jesus
• [72:35] - Closing Prayer and Song

Bible Reading

Esther 4 (ESV) —
> 1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry.
> 2 He went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king’s gate clothed in sackcloth.
> 3 And in every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.
> 4 When Esther’s young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.
> 5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was.
> 6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate,
> 7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.
> 8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people.
> 9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.
> 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say,
> 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”
> 12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said.
> 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.
> 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
> 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,
> 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
> 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

Observation Questions

1. What was Mordecai’s initial reaction to the king’s decree, and how did he involve Esther in the crisis? ([41:09])
2. What risk did Esther face if she approached the king without being summoned, and how did she respond to Mordecai’s request? ([41:45])
3. According to Mordecai, what might be the reason Esther was in her royal position at this specific time? ([42:23])
4. What steps did Esther take before deciding to approach the king, and who did she involve in those steps? ([42:23])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the book of Esther never mentions God by name, and how does this affect the way we see God’s involvement in the story? ([51:51])
2. What does Mordecai’s statement, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” suggest about God’s providence and human responsibility? ([42:23])
3. How does Esther’s willingness to risk her life for her people reflect the kind of faithfulness God desires from His people? ([41:45])
4. In what ways does Esther’s story challenge the idea that only obviously “spiritual” or “heroic” people are used by God? ([49:20])

Application Questions

1. The sermon described how God’s providence is often hidden, working through ordinary events and even coincidences. Can you think of a time in your life when something seemed random or difficult, but later you saw God’s hand in it? How did that realization affect your faith? ([52:30])
2. Esther had to make a hard choice to risk her safety for the sake of others. Is there a situation in your life right now where you feel called to act courageously, even if it’s uncomfortable or risky? What might it look like to take a small step of faithfulness this week? ([01:04:17])
3. The turning point for Esther was when she stopped hiding her identity and publicly identified with God’s people. Are there places in your life where you tend to hide your faith? What would it look like to be more open about your relationship with Jesus? ([01:07:29])
4. The sermon mentioned that Esther gathered her community to fast and seek wisdom before acting. When you face big decisions or crises, who do you turn to for support and prayer? How can you invite others into your process more intentionally? ([01:06:53])
5. Esther’s story points forward to Jesus, who chose the good of others over His own safety. In what ways can you follow Jesus’ example of sacrificial love in your relationships, work, or community this week? ([01:11:14])
6. The sermon talked about moments of public faith, like baptism or church membership, as opportunities for growth. If you haven’t taken a public step of faith, what’s holding you back? If you have, how did that experience shape your walk with God? ([01:09:26])
7. When was the last time you reflected on how your story might be part of a bigger story God is writing? How can you remind yourself this week that your choices and circumstances matter in God’s plan? ([01:01:12])