Do You See God's Hand?

On at least two Sunday nights each month you can find Cross Road Baptist Church gathered for Bible study in our members' homes. Our group will fit in one living room so we rotate from house to house. We'll start meeting in two homes each week when the group gets a little larger. We'd love to have you join us even if you aren't part of our church family. The church's website always lists the when and where for the next Sunday Night Bible Study.

For a few weeks we've been talking about the Book of Esther. The main theme that we seem to always talk about is God's sovereignty over all things. We came to chapter 6 last night. Haman is planning the demise of Mordecai and all the Jews. Esther is a relative of Mordecai and also the Queen. She invited the King and Haman to a special banquet wanting to expose Haman's plot to the King. On the first night of the banquet (chapter 5) Esther invites them to a second banquet the next night.

Chapter 6 starts by telling us that the King can't sleep. In the middle of the night he calls for his servant to bring him the records of his kingdom. Can you see God at work in this? God kept the King awake. The King chose to read rather than a number of other things he could have done. He chose to read his own biography! And the servant selected the volume that included another amazing twist to the story.

Years earlier, Mordecai had overheard two of the King's servants plotting to kill the King. Mordecai sent word to the King and saved his life. The book that the servant pulled from the shelves in the middle of the night included this event. Of all the volumes, the servant picked this one! Surely, God is at work. The King asked if anything had been done to honor Mordecai. Nothing had been done.

At that time Haman enters the courtroom and the King picks him to honor Mordecai. Haman is the greatest enemy of the Jews and he is plotting to kill Mordecai, but now he must lead the city to honor him. This humiliates the proud Haman, who expected the day to be a time of celebration of his own greatness.

The end of the chapter tells us of Haman returning home to explain to his family what had happened. They are no encouragement but tell him that since Mordecai is a Jew, Haman has no chance. At that moment, messengers from the King arrive to escort Haman to the second night's feast. A peek into chapter 7 reveals that Haman is exposed and the King has him killed using the very gallows Haman had built for Mordecai.

Haman's death opens the door for a plan to rescue the Jews from his plot to exterminate them. God is at work!

Do you see God's hand at work in your life? Sometimes you can see him clearly; sometimes not so much. Sometimes you wonder if he's doing anything. You wait and wonder.

I've heard this from many sources so I won't give credit for fear of being wrong. "When you can't trace God's hand you can trust his heart."

God's heart is full of love for you. God's heart is attending to what is best for you. God's heart is to draw you to him.

He's always doing something motivated by his heart. Maybe you can't see or hear or feel anything. But trust his heart.

Today could be a day when you are celebrating because you see his hand at work. Or today could be a day when you are desperately wondering if he cares. You are never out of God's sight and never out of his care. His hand is moving.