Esther's Our Girl

When God is Nowhere to be Found.

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place … And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?

Esther 4:14

 

I blame Stephen.

“You should lead a Women’s Bible Study.”  The words fell out of his mouth and practically stubbed me in the toe before hitting the ground in a thud.

My negative response came a little too quickly.  (and with it came that familiar feeling – I’m in trouble now).

Alrighty Lord, let’s pretend I do this.  What in the world would you have me teach?

God has a sense of humor, as His response also came a little too quickly:  “The Heart of God.”  (welcome to trouble moment #2)

I wrote an invitation by email to my Munich ladies, intentionally giving them a stress-free way to decline attending this study.  (walking head first into trouble #3…  They were coming.)

We can agree that the heart of God is a rather broad topic.  I wanted to use a book of the Bible to bring it to life, but, honestly, I had no idea where to begin.  Then, while having a rare hour to myself on a gorgeous sunny afternoon in the heart of Munich, a secluded stone fountain seemed to be calling my name.  I sat down, opened my Bible to the Table of Contents, took a deep breath and said – OK, Father, where should we go?

The word ESTHER might as well have floated off the page and into my mouth.  I read all 10 chapters to the sound of the glittering water.  Then I came home and announced to the group:  Esther is our girl.  (…Howdy Ho, Trouble #4)

Have you ever sat high in the sky on a theme park ride, questioning what possessed you to get in a 2 hour line and brave this drop?  Holding your breath during the masterfully timed delay, just before you say goodbye to your stomach – now 15 stories in the air above you?

That announcement of Esther was the delay before my drop.  I just didn’t know it yet.

Martin Luther said:  “I am so great an enemy to Esther, that I wish it had not come to us at all, for it has too many heathen unnaturalities”  Um, OK Mr. Luther, you clearly had an opinion.

He wasn’t the only person who felt that way. No commentary was written on Esther for the first 700 years of the church.  Today, scholars suggest that one never teaches this book on a verse by verse basis (my planned approach); rather, we’re encouraged to give the book a thematic overview – sort of like one big parable.

Oh, and yes, I should mention that the name of God is not in any fashion, form or pretense, EVER once mentioned. We don’t so much as read the word “pray” in all 5,383 words.

THIS is where God led me to find His heart?

Absolutely.

Fifteen weeks of intensive research, 80 pages of notes, and a Bible Study attended by some of my most favorite women – The book of Esther has truly and unexpectedly swept me off my feet.  Steve laughed as I repeatedly filled our dinner conversation with my childlike excitement about the treasures God has hidden here.

How is it that everyone is NOT talking about the book?

The (unknown) author uses many remarkable strategies to give us one of the most valuable gifts in all of scripture.  And God’s name being absent from the pages is as purposeful as it should be impacting.

How many times in YOUR life has the physical evidence of God’s presence gone completely unseen?  Everything from the miracles we never knew to look for, the provided protection we didn’t know we needed, the meaningless encounters that led to strategic relationships, the “coincidences” that happen all the time, the everyday – under our radar – reality of Christ.

And it’s certainly not just when things go right that we miss God’s presence.  It’s also when they go horribly wrong.  Where was God when the execution of His people was inevitable in the book of Esther?  Where was God when my newborn son almost died?  Where was He when we needed Him most?

Often, in hindsight, we can find Him, but what the author of Esther is trying to teach is that God IS here, NOW.  It’s not just the parting of the red sea that should get our attention.  It’s that whether we are praying, walking with Him, or cursing His name – He is with us.  In all of it.  We need to look for and expect to find Him.  Not in hindsight, but in the moment.

We don’t need to read words like: God, heaven, miracle, promise or prayer to see how the Father is orchestrating the rescue of a lifetime in the book of Esther.  His fingerprints are everywhere.  Most people (myself included) can read the book cover to cover and never even notice that here, in this book of the BIBLE, no credit, no attention is ever given to God.  It’s because we see Him between the black and white of our pages.

In our own lives, whether we give God the glory or not, His prints on us are undeniable.  He FIGHTS for you.  Who you are, where you’re placed, what opportunities you have –  all are intended to move and shape the Father’s plans to further His kingdom – not only for you, but in the world around you.

When Mordecai, Esther’s adopted father, said to her:

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?  Esther 4:14

He was making 2 important points.

  1. You were built for this moment, but You get to decide.
  2. He didn’t need to remind her that the “deliverance” would be arranged by GOD.  The only hope for Israel has always been the Father.  And we don’t limit Him when we say, “No”.  We limit ourselves.  WE perish.  His promises will remain true, even when we don’t.

Throughout scripture we see snippets of great people’s lives, like Esther.  We watch their DEFINING moments.  And there’s a whole lot of in-between we know nothing about.  But those humdrum moments also mattered a lot to God, and He was in them because of it.

In between all the black and white words that define OUR lives, He is right HERE.

Can you see Him?

No doubt, I’ll be sharing more with you about the treasures in Esther with future writings.  In the meantime, take some time to see the treasures hidden in you (right now).

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  • Jan Hockenberry February 9, 2015 at 1:02 pm

    words of inspired truth that the reader can eat and digest.
    Keep um coming Heather

    • Heather Yoder February 10, 2015 at 10:25 am

      Thanks for the heart felt encouraging push, Jan. The next one is already in process, and I’m excited about next Monday!

  • Francina Siders Simmons February 9, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    Looking for the hidden treasure is me is sometimes like being in the darkest underground mine. But God surprise me with what I see that I didn’t see before. Thank you for sharing what He has shown you.

    • Heather Yoder February 10, 2015 at 10:27 am

      As I’ve been studying this book I’ve felt like that too, Francina. A bit like Indian Jones, as I’ve tried to find the key to secrets of the universe. 😉 I always joked with my Bible Study that I’m certain if we find the right word and press it at the right time the book of Esther will open up a cavern of light and treasures answering everything we’ve ever wanted to know. If only…

  • Megan Owens February 10, 2015 at 4:04 am

    Amen, friend! Funny Martin Luther didn’t want to touch Ester but Veggie Tales took her on in style:)) Can’t wait to hear more from her about this heroine of our faith!

    • Heather Yoder February 10, 2015 at 10:30 am

      My first week on this study, Megan, I pulled out our Veggie Tales Esther DVD and said, as much as I love this show, it is not the story we’re going to uncover in the coming weeks. At the end of it all we watched the movie called “One Night With the King”. It was fun to have a popcorn movie morning, but we were hard sells on their interpretation of the story. We know TOO much now. =)

  • Seed Sower Sis February 11, 2015 at 7:29 am

    Hmmm – Let me clear my throat.
    The Lord just woke me up and told me that the fruit from this post will be coming to you in huge semi truck loads. Numerous, big , many and it is all in his glory through his wise daughter , Heather Lynn ( that is my middle name too.)
    I do not get the first sentence, ‘I blame Stephen.’ Likely due to my lack of time in the word.
    Esther has been my girl from the very beginning of this journey the Lord has been taking our family on. Fasting , praying and resting with ferocity with Our King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The enemy was so unrelenting in their evil that there was no other way.
    My favorite sentence in this writing is, ‘OK, Mr. Luther, you clearly had an opinion.’
    God Bless you and yours

    • Heather Yoder February 11, 2015 at 8:38 am

      Firstly, “I blame Stephen” That’s a good one to ask about ;). Stephen is my husband and he’s the one who brought up the idea that I do a study for the women. Don’t you just hate it when your husband schools you on what you already know you should be doing? So, while I do blame him, I’m VERY grateful to him. Without his prodding I wouldn’t have done it all. And thank you, my friend, for waking up and sharing the things the Lord has on your heart. Because I know He speaks to you about many things. For ME to be included in the list is a great honor. And “Huge semi truck” loads… well, that is certainly a transformation I can on board with!! Love you!