"Esther" Part 1 “The Light of the World"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"Esther"

Part 1

"The Light of the World"

   

    

    The book of Esther contains some of the richest typology of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Bible, along with allegory that alludes to our Heavenly Father's historical and prophetic working in Israel and the nations.  Other spiritual truths fill its pages.  The book of Esther, however, never directly mentions God.

    "Search the Scriptures…  they are they which testify of Me" (John 5:39).

   What other author would pen a self revelation, but omit mention of himself?  Only the God of Scripture could inspire such a work that so vividly reveals His character, nature, and way without overt reference to His own presence and involvement.  This speaks to the behind the scenes working of our Lord in our present existence.  Most of His doings take place in ways we cannot begin to see or understand.  "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33).  Indeed, whenever we wonder if our Heavenly Father is working in our hearts and lives, remembering the book of Esther reminds us that much - most! - of His loving involvement proceeds without fanfare, and without even mention.  

   Esther became queen of a kingdom "for such a time as this", that is, for the rescue of Israel (Esther 4:14).  She didn't know it, and required her cousin Mordecai to inform her of God's doings in her life.  Mordecai opened her eyes, encouraging and challenging her heart to see the Lord's presence and working.  Herein we see one of primary reasons God sent the Lord Jesus into the world.  "I am the light of the world… No man hath seen God at any time.  The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared (revealed) Him" (John 8:12; 1:18).  In Christ, people with eyes to see discover how pervasively God's involvement fills the world.  Just as Mordecai opened Esther's eyes, so does the Lord Jesus illuminate the hearts of all who truly see Him for who and what He is.  His very name - Emmanuel - means "God with us" (Matthew 1:23).  To know the Lord Jesus thus means that we realize God had sent us to our particular kingdom "for such a time as this".  Believers exist to fulfill God's purposes in our particular venue, circumstance, situation, and condition of life.  

    The book of Esther contains one of the greatest stories of Scripture, and of all literature.  More importantly, it contains the message of God's presence and involvement in ways we will miss unless our Mordecai, the Lord Jesus, reminds us of such grace.  Remembrance of Him illuminates, encourages, and challenges us to see the invisible, to hear the inaudible, to touch the unfelt, and to realize that "such a time as this" grants opportunity to participate in the fulfillment of God's purposes for His glory and the blessing of others.

"In Thy light shall we see light."

(Psalm 36:9)

"He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father."

(John 14:9)

Tomorrow: Part 2   "For Such a Time As This"

Weekly Memory Verse

    Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.

(John 6:35)