Imagine you are told that on a certain day you, your family and your whole community are going to be massacred. This is what the Jewish community in and around Susa faced at this time. This is a big moment in the biblical history of the Jews. They were one step away from genocide. The response of the Jews was not just grief; the wearing of sackcloth was a traditional part of prayer in times of great distress. Even before this circumstance had arisen, however, God had already put things in place to answer their prayers. Nothing takes God by surprise; he has already put things in place in your life that will help you in the future. In fact, he may be establishing things in your life right now that will be necessary for where he wants to take you. By God’s providence, right when the Jews were under their greatest threat, the Queen of Persia happened to be a Jewess. At this stage, however, the Persian king doesn’t know that he has effectively commanded the death of his wife. Already, therefore, we begin to sense that God has set things up here perfectly. If you are walking in God’s purpose for you then you will experience this kind of divine providence all the time. It is one of the great thrills of the life in God. God loves to remind us that he is with us and looking after us. It is important to recognise and celebrate God’s providence. The key to being able to recognise it is by expecting it and looking for it.
Where have you seen God’s providence lately? Give thanks to God for that.
Read Esther 4
