Invisible Providence

We are looking at the life of Esther on Wednesday evenings. The Old Testament book of Esther is a wonderful tribute to the invisible providence of God.  Although we may never actually hear or see God in the story, we have an overwhelming sense of confidence that He is just off stage, cueing the characters and orchestrating the drama in order to preserve His people from a tragic ending.

The story that unfolds in the book of Esther is not unlike the dramas played out in our everyday lives.  Seldom when enemies are on our heels are our Red Seas parted.  Seldom when disaster is at our door are we warned by angelic visitors.  Seldom when we are in need of direction are we instructed by God from a burning bush.  And neither was Esther. 

It’s easy to see God in the miraculous.  It’s not easy to see Him in the mundane.  But that’s where most of us live.  We don’t see handwriting on the wall.  We don’t hear thunder from Sinai. 

Esther realized that God had raised her to a position of prominence for a reason.  But to understand that reason, she had to ignore her palatial surroundings and listen to the still, small voice of Providence.  In Psalms 46:10 we have a command that tells us to do the same.  The verse contains eight simple, yet revolutionary words.

Be, still, and know that I am God. --- KJV
Cease striving and know that I am God. --- NASB
Stand silent. --- Living Bible

The Hebrew literally means “Let go, relax.” When we learn to do that, we learn what Esther learned ---- that God, though invisible, is invincible.  But we will only learn that if we listen. 

A.W. Tozer in his book The Pursuit of God put it this way, “Whoever will listen will hear the speaking in Heaven.  This is definitely not the hour when we take kindly to an exhortation to listen, for listening is not today a part of popular religion.  We are at the opposite end of the pole from there.  Religion has accepted the monstrous heresy that noise, size, activity, and bluster make a man dear to God.  But may we take heart.  To a people caught in the tempest of the last great conflict God says, Be still, and know that I am God --- Ps. 46:10.  Still he says it, as if He means to tell us that our strength and safety lie not in noise but in silence.”