The Coincidences In Life

Esther has become one of my favorite books in the Bible. I did an in depth study of Esther in college, but now studying Esther in a Bible study I have found myself finding new treasures of God’s providence. Perhaps it is age or being able to take a step back to reassess just how perfectly aligned the events in Esther occurred.

Many have often discounted the importance of Esther to the canon due to the absence of God’s name, but the story of Esther relays a great message of God’s providence. The providence of God is portrayed through the use of perfect coincidences that occur in the Book of Esther, such as Esther not revealing her identity (Esther 2:10, 20) or that the king saw Esther even when he had not called for her (Esther 5:1-3). Esther had time to mature as queen and learn the ways of the palace before her time came to ask for King Ahaseurus’ favor. She learned just how much the king loved feasts. It is like that old saying “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. One of my favorite providence moments in Esther is that Esther and her cousin were still able to communicate through a trusted eunuch. In days like today where secrets and communications are so public it seems hard to believe that back then the eunuch was not corrupted to go tell the king or Haman about Esther’s heritage. God’s name may not be written in Esther, but the perfectly aligned circumstances that kept the Jews from being annihilated have the marking of the divine sovereignty of God and His redemptive story.

The story of Esther shows that no matter the schemes of man, nothing can ever pluck God’s people from His plan. God’s purpose could not be thwarted by the plans of man, because as Proverbs 5:21 states, “For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.” God knows the heart of the man and is able to accomplish His purpose regardless of the plans of man just as Esther 4:14 begins to point out. We have a choice to step up to the plate as Esther did or watch as God uses someone else.   

Like in Esther, challenges arise for faithful living in a pagan world as we can get caught up in the ways of man. (1 Peter 2:11). Esther and the Jews were surrounded by hostile people of different religions and beliefs. The easy way would have been to throw the towel in and give up. However, Esther and the Jews kept to their faith. It took courage, perseverance, and trust in God even when He did not seem near. As Christians in the New Testament are told in Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” The story of Esther is a great cloud of witness to help persevere through the valleys where God cannot be seen, but His providence and protection are there for those that love Him. That is why there is such value in the moments of celebration in ministries, because there will be valleys to get through and mountains to climb where encouragement is much needed. By celebrating the good in life and ministry the past is less likely to be forgotten.  As New Testament Christians it is important to remember God’s presence in life, even as the Jews remember in the Purim feast.

The importance of Esther can be summarized in Romans 15:4, which states “For everything that was written the past was written to teach, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Esther’s story grants hope that even when things seem in dire circumstances God can turn them around for good. God’s providence is there for His people. Esther may not have God’s name in it, but God’s name is on it. As Psalm 138:2c states, “For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.” God’s name is written across His Word. We are told his redemption story through Esther. He took a normal girl and used her to save her people. The same can be true for us-to be used to change the world around us for good. Esther’s story is history that reminds us how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. If we choose to nix or forget the past we end up making the same mistakes or the stories of God’s goodness is lost. Past stories, like that of Esther, teach Christians that even when you cannot feel God it does not mean He is not there. Rather hold on to the truth of Romans 8:28“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  God may just be raising up a person to be a hero for such a time as this.

In our own life how often is God’s name written in our story? Do we write his name across our hearts? Would people be able to tell we are God’s people? It is not always easy to see God’s hand in our lives all the time, but He is stringing together coincidences that strain the laws of probability. By just being alive you strain the laws of probability. It was possible for you to be born exactly how you are, but the probability was nil. What are the chances your parents met and had you or your grandparents meeting and having your parents? Coincidences do not just happen, but are God’s very faithful hand at work in our lives. Something that seems to be just an ordinary coincidence might just change your life as it did Esther.