Unfathomable Grace

In the book of Esther, the Chosen People of God are in danger of another holocaust. On the throne is a heartless, tyrannical dictator; and one of the king’s most beloved counselors is a violent man named Haman who passionately wishes to eradicate the Hebrew race. However, God and his people hit upon a lucky streak:

• King Ahasuerus just happened to throw a raucous “South Beach” style party.
• Then, in his drunken condition, the crazy king decided to summon the queen to be paraded before his intoxicated guests.
• Queen Vashti, against all odds and common sense, dangerous refused the direct order of the self-worshiping maniac.
• In response, the king’s magi encouraged him to replace the queen; luckily, a door was opened for a future heroine.
• The magi also encouraged the humiliated king to play the “Bachelor”; a search was to be made throughout his realm for a new virgin hottie.
• Meanwhile, sometime back, a Jewish couple had married, copulated, and their combined chromosomes had produced a stunning young lady whom they named Esther. The timing of her maturation was perfect, and if she had not been so gorgeous to behold, she would not have been considered by the king’s servants.
• When the king’s ambassadors went out, and of all the places they could have visited, they happened to stumble upon the shire and household of Esther. It was lucky for Israel that she was kidnapped and ripped from her loving family.
• Then, out of all the beautiful girls recently placed in the king’s harem, Esther was the one most stunning to the lusty king.
• In the meantime, Haman’s secret anti-Semitic plot became known to Mordecai, who, as luck would have it, happened to be Esther’s uncle.
• Haman, in all of his plotting and planning, never learned that the King’s new wife was of Jewish descent.
• Haman, in all of his plotting and planning, cast lots to determined the day of doom, and the day selected happened to give Mordecai and Esther the time needed to pursue a solution.
• Esther was meek and fearful, but against all odds, her will was inflamed and she determined to be the heroine who risked her life for her people.
• Later, when Esther entered the king’s quarters — without joy and without being summoned — she was strangely shown favor by the arrogant, self-serving, and temperamental king.
• Then, on a certain night, it just so happened that King Ahasuerus could not sleep.
• During his sleepless night, he requested not wine and entertainment, but that the kingdom chronicles might be read.
• And out of all the various chapters, the portion that happened to be read focused on Mordecai and his formally unrecognized service to the king.
• King Ahasuerus determined that someone should honor Mordecai, and at that very moment, Haman happened to walk in the door.
• The parade was performed, and then King Ahasuerus learned how Haman wished to kill all the Jews — which would have included Mordecai and Esther. The king left the dinner table in a fit of rage, and at that point Haman fell on his knees and into the lap of Esther. The king walked back in the room at that moment and saw his enemy in the lap of his queen.
• The angry monarch condemned Haman to death by means of the nearby gallows, which just happen to have been constructed and completed on that very day.

Therefore, when one reads this story of the salvation of God’s Chosen People, one can conclude that God and his beloved were incredibly fortunate. If it had not been for a long streak of unplanned coincidences, God’s people may have been annihilated, and God’s plan to bring about a Hebrew Messiah to save the world may been frustrated. One could read this story and surmise it was an incredibly unlucky day for Queen Vashti, Haman, and his children. One could conclude that for Mordecai, Esther, the Jewish people, and God, Lady Luck surely shined upon them in that season of life.

However, this is not the conclusion the wise student of scripture would draw. The Bible says that all things work out in conformity with the purpose of his will. (Ephesians 1:11)

The wisest man on earth wrote, “The Lord works out everything for his own ends — even the wicked for a day of disaster … In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps … A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way? … The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:4; 16:9; 20:24; 16:33)

Jesus said that not even a sparrow would fall to the ground apart from the will of the Heavenly Father. (Matthew 10:29-31)

Paul stated, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who ar called according to his purpose … Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out.” (Romans 8:28; 11:33)

Friends, there are no unguided chromosomes, no rogue germs or molecules, no uncontrolled hairs or sparrows, no independent men and women, and no events and actions left to chance. God is all-present, all-seeing, all-knowing, all-wise, and all-controlling. He is not the author of sin, but he is the ordainer of it. He is Lord over the righteous decisions of men, and sovereign over the sinful wills of his enemies. God foreordains whatsoever comes to pass, and he leaves nothing to Mother Nature or Lady Luck.

Therefore, God is the one who sovereignly harms. He is Lord over your addiction, abuse, and abandonment. He is sovereign over your disease, disability, and depression. He is the one who puts tyrants in their place. Even holocausts find their origination in his hard-to-fathom and often mysterious will.

And God is the one who sovereignly saves and blesses. He is the one who grants beauty, wisdom, and success. He is the one who places righteous men and women in seats of governmental authority.

So let us not conclude that God is distant from our sorrow or our salvation. He leaves nothing to chance, and he will make all things right. Therefore, as servants under the mighty hand of the mysterious God, let us like Job say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” (Job 13:15)  And like Esther, may our resolve be, “Then I will go to the king, though it is against the Law, and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16)  God is Lord, and there is no luck.