The Sleepless Night

The almighty God caused this sleepless night for King Ahasuerus when the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, pursued a plan for His people.  To carry out this plan, He kept this powerful king from sleeping.  This happened on a decisive night.

The Special Character of Esther

This passage highlights the special character of the book of Esther once again.  The attentive reader will notice something important.  In this very interesting Bible book, God’s name is never mentioned even once. Nevertheless, the book of Esther is inspired by God, like all the other writings of the biblical canon.

His hand and His actions become visible on every page; even the smallest, seemingly insignificant situations come together into a wonderful plan.  Physical eyes do not directly see how God intervenes, but faith recognizes His work, and faith knows the direction in which He is guiding everything.

God Overrules Every Attack

In the book of Esther, we are shown how the enemy tries everything, yet God stands above all things. Every move Satan makes ultimately proves to be another link in the chain of events, through which God carries out His gracious plan for Israel.

As it was then, so it is today, and it will always be so. Satan’s malice, human pride, and hostile influences serve a purpose in the end, and they are only instruments in God’s hand through which He fulfills His purposes of grace.  With this knowledge, our heart may come to rest, even when we are constantly surrounded by this world’s schemes.

The Lord’s Goal and Purposes

James writes: “You have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings” (James 5:11).  That means: you have recognized His goal and His purposes.  We will also experience in our own lives that the Lord’s plans are fulfilled and remain in place. Knowing that He acts according to His own sovereign will gives us security and calms our heart at all times.

God Behind the Scenes

God stands behind the scenes; every element in the “machinery of people” is under His control.  Even if the world does not know or acknowledge His name, His mighty hand remains at work, and His word deserves our full trust.  We, as children of God who live by faith, know the goal He pursues in everything.