February 1 A Real Story

Esther 1:1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces

NOW we return to the “Five E’s” – Ezekiel, Elijah, Elisha, Esther and Ephesians.

    To begin our study of Esther, I’d like to compare Esther 1:1 to Luke 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. How are these two verses alike? As you may recall from our Advent study, one reason Luke wrote that sentence regarding Caesar Augustus was to give the evidence of historical reference to our Lord’s human birth. Historians have found a definite time to mark Jesus’ birth as they look at Rome’s and Judah’s histories. We must know Christianity’s history to defend our faith against its many detractors. Knowing God’s history also assures us he is our promise-keeping God. We can trust his Word.

    The writer of Esther does the same thing as Luke. As in many biblical writings, secular “scholars” and others who try to discredit God’s Word have created controversy over the authenticity of Esther. There are such questions as, “How could this story of a peasant girl confronting both a sovereign king and his second in command be true?” Using the references to King Ahasuerus (also known as Xerxes in some other translations) and Persia, historians look at the story’s details regarding time, customs, languages and habits of its people. They see that all the events give us a true view of other historical references to Persia and its people at that point in time.

    And what time do these events occur? This is also very important to know. It helps us to see the Lord’s plan to save you today is accomplished even through his preordained events through ancient pagan kingdoms. The time is after the Jews’ exile to Babylon. When Persia defeated Babylon, many Jews returned to Jerusalem and Judah. But many others remained and lived in Persia, formerly Babylon. Also, it is important to note the Jews, who lived in Judah, were still subject to Persia’s rule. The 127 provinces mentioned include nearly all of what we know today as the Middle East, extending from India to southern Egypt and Somalia. Ahasuerus’ decrees were supreme law over a very large territory – similar to what the Jews would later experience under Rome. Ahasuerus was an extremely powerful man.

    The reason I mention this historical information is to help you pay close attention to the central theme of Esther: God is sovereign. He is so even to use an uneducated, peasant girl of minimal faith to advance his salvation promise to the world.

    Perhaps it’s easier to see God work his sovereign plans through such Prophets as Ezekiel, Elijah and Elisha. And certainly we know God sovereignly sent his Son to earth as Luke records. But as each of us lives our “normal” lives, we must be mindful that our real God uses real people – even you – to exhibit a real, transforming faith “for such a time as this”. (Esther 4:14)

    Are you saved into the Kingdom of God through Jesus’ blood? Then you have been called to faithfully respond to the most powerful king of all.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the extraordinary ways you call me to be a faithful witness for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.