As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.

— Genesis 50:20

13 … Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today…

14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

— Exodus 14:13-14

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 house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

— Esther 4:14

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).

— Matthew 1:22-23

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails and will stand.

— Proverbs 19:21

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and salvation from Christ to you.

The book of Esther records how God protected Israelites when the Persia king ordered all Jews to be annihilated in one day. There we see God’s overruling providence in positioning and preserving His people to accomplish His plans. God’s work behind the scenes remains certain, even when His name is not spoken or even acknowledged. The book of Esther reveals how God overcame opposition to preserve His eternal plan to send the Messiah from among Jews and redeem a people unto Himself.

The story also reveals God’s sovereign orchestration of matters big and small. The key details emphasizes the scope of God’s oversight. He works in seemingly insignificant ways to accomplish great things. The breadth and depth of God’s tender care reveal His unlimited power. God’s active work throughout human history encourages us believers living in a world where evil often appears to have the upper hand. God is always at work. We can certainly trust God with both the overall direction and intricate details of our lives.