Fingerprints of God: In Providential Patience

Don’t rush God’s plan and His timing. Wait in providential patience by actively slowing down in prayer to prepare for the purpose of God.

Esther 5 - ¹ On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. ² And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. ³ And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” ⁴ And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” ⁵ Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. ⁶ And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” ⁷ Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: ⁸ If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”

⁹ And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. ¹⁰ Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. ¹¹ And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. ¹² Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. ¹³ Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.” ¹⁴ Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.

What would you do if the survival of God’s people depended on you? Esther 4 ended with high tensions of a genocidal decree against Jews and their survival depended on Esther. The urgency demanded a swift response from Esther, but she chose to delay her response by fasting for three days because of providential patience, a virtue in which you trust God’s plan and wait for God’s timing even if God seemed silent.

The problem is that in our fast-paced culture, waiting is equated with wasting time. People need to know that waiting on God in providential patience is the key to unlocking steadfast endurance grounded in the conviction that the sovereign God is actively guiding all things for His good purposes, even when the results are not yet visible.

The events recorded in Esther 5 reveal that God’s fingerprints were evident in the providential patience of Esther and her people. Even when they felt rushed by the urgency of the genocidal decree, they chose to fast and pray together. Their trust in God’s plan and timing when God seemed silent, teaches us providential patience which seems to be the focus of this chapter.

The big idea is, if you want God to move in your situations, whether urgent or not, then don’t rush God’s plan and His timing; rather, wait in providential patience. You do that by actively slowing down in prayer to prepare for the purpose of God. That is exactly what Esther did and led her people to do also. In Esther 5, we see providential patience displayed in three distinct situations: delayed petitioning, deliberate planning, and dangerous plotting.

Providential Patience in Delayed Petitioning (Esther 5:1–3)

Esther 5:1 reads, “On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace.”

We don’t know if Esther has been in the throne room before because that was not a place for a friendly gathering, but rather a place of judgment and decisions. I imagine this to be an intimidating room, massive in size, with high ceilings, and with great pillars declaring the glory of the mighty king who sits on the throne.

Notice the chapter opens with the phrase “on the third day.” That is a reference to the third day of fasting in Esther 4:16, where Esther commanded Mordecai this, “¹⁶ “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.””

Jews wanted her to act, but she directed them to God, who was the only one could do something. If she was going to risk it all— power, position, and possessions, and above all, her life for God’s people, she wanted them to be involved through prayer and fasting. In Esther’s delayed petition to the king, we learn three principles of providential patience for mature believers in times of trouble when they feel rushed.

Mature believers don’t panic but pray.

Esther didn’t panic. Everyone around her, including her adopted father, Uncle Mordecai panicked as he tore his clothes and ran to the gates of the palace to protest the injustice. Some may have expected a similar response from Esther. However, her response was providential patience which forced them to be patient too. Rather than petitioning to the king in panic, she chose to petition the King of Kings in prayer. In providential patience, she approached God’s throne before she approached Ahasuerus’ throne.

Mature believers don’t pray alone but together.

Esther didn’t pray alone; she sought out the help of others because she saw a spiritual battle behind the political move. There are times when you cannot fight the demonic powers behind the schemes of the devil alone; you need other believers to stand with you in prayer and fasting. We are a praying church, when you send a prayer request, we take that seriously and go to war against spiritual powers on your behalf. I encourage you to find prayer partners and pray together.

Mature believers don’t pray passively but proactively.

Esther’s petition for fasting and prayer on her behalf was to gain favor with the king, for the law said that anyone who appeared before the king uninvited was to be put to death unless the king showed them favor. Esther’s petition for fasting and prayer was also for divine wisdom and direction because in faith. She was preparing herself spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically to convince the king to spare the lives of her people. That means she didn’t pray passively, but proactively. Some believers use prayer as an excuse not to prepare or to procrastinate.

The principle I want us to learn here is, praying people take active steps in faith because providential patience is not passive; nor is prayer. We are called to an active faith in which we proactively prepare ourselves for God's purposes. That means if you are praying for a job patiently, in faith also you should put out as many resumes as you can. One of my mentors told me that he sent over 100 resumes before he got his first pastoral job. In faith, take practical steps, network and ask around for a job in your respective field. If you are dealing with debt, disease, or death, the same rule applies. Pray patiently but also seek out counsel and resources.

Also, Esther’s petition for prayer and fasting was specific and strategic. In Esther 4:16, she said, “…hold a fast on my behalf and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.” Esther 5:1, says, “On the third day, Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s place.” This means Esther and all the Jews in Susa the citadel were still fasting and praying when Esther enters the throne room, not knowing whether she will live or die.

In Esther 5:2, in silence, God answered their prayers and fasting and granted Esther the first favor. Esther 5:2-3 reads, “² And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. ³ And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.”

Last week, I was talking to a sister in our church about the discipline of fasting. I said you don’t have to wait for tragedy to strike to fast. We can pray and fast out of gratitude and in faith.

Application

In troubling times, don’t panic but pray. And don’t pray alone. Ask other to join you in prayer and fasting, and when you don’t pray passively but proactively in faith as you wait for God’s timing in providential patience.

Providential Patience in Deliberate Planning (Esther 4:4–8)

Esther 5:4-8 says, “⁴ And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” ⁵ Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. ⁶ And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” Notice this is the second time the king repeats that whatever she wants will be done. ⁷ Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: ⁸ If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.””

So far, Esther had two opportunities, and twice she chose to delay her petition. It was not out of fear or hesitation, but rather holy restraint. It was strategic and Spirit-led. Perhaps Esther sensed the Spirit prompting her to wait because it simply wasn’t God’s timing. Besides, her plan was to have more facetime with the king. She hasn’t seen him for some time and Haman sees him all the time. She didn’t know but God was preparing something behind the scenes.

Application

God often works through quiet providence and delayed actions. He has His timing for everything. So, be prepared and have a plan, but wait for God’s timing patiently. We will know God’s timing when it arrives. Now, while Esther, in providential patience, was waiting for God’s timing, impatient Haman dug his own grave.

Providential Patience in Dangerous Plotting (Esther 5:9–14)

Esther 5 finishes with, “⁹ And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. ¹⁰ Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. ¹¹ And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. ¹² Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. ¹³ Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.” ¹⁴ Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.”

We see a stark contrast between Esther’s patient reactions and Haman’s impulsive ones. One is operating from a place of humility and the other from a place of pride. Prideful Haman leaves the Queen's palace and the banquet joyful, but as soon as he sees Mordecai his joy vanishes; his pride is hurt. The bitter Haman comes home to his wife and friend, unaware of the Queen’s identity as a Jew and adopted daughter of Mordecai. They suggest building gallows to hang Mordecai. These are the same gallows where Haman himself will be hung in the end. Haman has power, position, and all the possessions the world can offer yet one man’s refusal to bow before him robbed him of joy. Pride is never satisfied.

Application

Don’t let pride dictate your reactions. Pride always overestimates self and underestimates God. Psalm 7:15-16 reminds us that the wicked fall into the very trap they set. In providence patience, Esther will see that Haman’s dangerous plot will cause his end. Is there any pride in your heart that needs to be humbled before God brings you low? Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction…” So, beware of the blinding power of pride; it distorts reality and leads to a fall. Know this, human pride cannot stand against God’s purposes.

Closing Thought

I want to draw your attention to a positive lesson we learn in evil Haman’s reaction. Haman allowed one person to take his joy away. Perhaps you have a colleague, a neighbor, or a relative who is taking your joy. Rather than enjoying all the blessings that God has given you, whether life, health, family, home, honor etc., you are letting one person, one situation, or one event steal your joy.

Action Step

Examine your faith against Esther’s faith in the sovereignty of God. It was evident in her providential patience that brought about delaying petitioning, deliberate planning, and even dangerous plotting. Esther risks her life by entering the king’s presence uninvited but as the story unfolds, she will be the rescuer of her people.

Appeal

Learn from Esther’s courage and strategic wisdom that stands in contrast to Haman’s pride and rashness. Behind every detail, God’s hidden hand is preparing deliverance for His people.

• Will you trust God’s timing and walk in obedience, even when the outcome is uncertain?

• Will you use your influence for God’s kingdom like Esther?

• Will you wait patiently for God’s plan and His timing because sometimes, the most spiritual thing we can do to confront an urgent need is wait on God’s timing.

When you are hit with sad, bad, or even life-threatening news, your first response should not be panic but prayer because in panic, fear takes over, but in prayer faith takes over. Panic leads to unwise choices; prayer leads to the wisdom of God.

Like Esther, don’t panic. Slow down and wait for God's timing as you approach God’s throne for wisdom in prayer and fasting. Like Esther if you want God to move in your situations, whether urgent or not, then don’t rush God’s plan and His timing, rather wait in providential patience by actively slowing down in prayer to prepare for the purpose of God.

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