Fingerprints of God: In Providential Presence

When your plans are disturbed, your nights are restless, or your routine is interrupted, it may just be that God is setting the stage for your deliverance.

Esther 6 - ¹ On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. ² And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. ³ And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” ⁴ And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows^[b] that he had prepared for him. ⁵ And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” ⁶ So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” ⁷ And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, ⁸ let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown^[c] is set. ⁹ And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” ¹⁰ Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” ¹¹ So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”

¹² Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. ¹³ And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”

¹⁴ While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.

Why do people say, “timing is everything?” We've all heard stories about being in the right place at the right time and in the wrong place at the wrong time. I experienced that at the age of 17 in Pakistan. A group of Muslim men mistook me for someone else, beat me, and were about to kill me when a friend of theirs arrived just in time to confirm that I wasn't the person they were looking for. I remember them telling me, “Sorry, you were in the wrong place at the wrong time.” However, ten years later, I realized in providential presence, that I was actually in the right place at the right time because God used that incident to set the stage for where I am today. That is how God's providence works; Esther 6 is all about that.

The problem is that when people say “timing is everything,” they don’t understand why. They need to know that it is because of the providential presence in which God, behind the scenes, controls, guides, and directs timing in everything. They need to know that the Bible says, “in him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).”

For generations, Esther 6, has illustrated that truth to show that in the providential presence, all affairs in the universe and all circumstances in our lives, small or big, good or bad, are working together for good for God’s glory and His purposes.

The big idea is, in providential presence, nothing is wasted. From the tiniest details to the mightiest events, whether sin or suffering, God uses it all for good. Romans 8:28 says, “for those who love God, all things work together for good… according to his purpose.”

Do you struggle to understand how sin, suffering, and a season of uncertainty can serve God’s purposes and can be good for you? Esther 6 is an invitation for us to see the unseen and behind-the-scenes providential presence that brought divine deliverance for God’s people through three small, surprising events: divine disruption, deceptive delusion, and dramatic demotion.

Divine Disruption (Esther 6:1-3)

In Esther 6:1-3, we see divine disruption in a subtle way. Verse 1 reads, “On that night, the king could not sleep.” “On that night” is a reference to the night of the banquet at Esther’s palace in Esther 5. Why couldn’t the king sleep? Some say the king had too much to eat. Others say the king was too excited to see Esther. And others say he was anxious about tomorrow. Those speculations might have some truth, but the context of the story tells us that the king couldn’t sleep because God didn’t want him to sleep. Yes, God has control over our sleep. Psalm 127:2 says that God grants sleep to those He loves. Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Sometimes we don’t sleep because we are anxious about tomorrow. We twist and turn in our beds, worried about medical appointments, job interviews, finances, family problems, marriages, and sometimes we don’t even know why we are anxious.

Jesus, in Matthew 6:34, said, “Therefore don’t be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” How do we stop ourselves from being anxious and worried about tomorrow? Philippians 4:6 says, “…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.”

Some of you know that other than a divinity degree, I also have a masters in pastoral counseling. I was trained professionally in how to help others with anxiety and worry, and yet, when my parents’ health began to break down, I needed a therapist. So, my therapist, a PhD guy, told me to meditate and pray the Augustine prayer.

I’m sharing this for two reasons: please don’t shy away from seeking resources for your mental health and even though I have a secular therapist, he said he gives that prayer to his clients.

This means that the solution is prayer which we talked about last time in Esther 5. However, sometimes God does not want us to sleep because He wants us to get on our knees and intercede for others. Perhaps you have been in that situation too, but rather than getting on your knees, you got on your phone, scrolling through your social media posts (research shows that the blue light emitted from screens suppresses melatonin production, a hormone that regulates sleep and emotionally charged content overstimulates our brain, making it harder to fall asleep, and poor sleep increases stress and leads to other health issues).

Now the king could have summoned storytellers, entertainers, musicians, or wine, but continuing in Esther 6:1-3 is what God put on his heart, “^1b And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. ² And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. ³ And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” In providential presence, the divine disruption was needed to remind the king that five years ago, Mordecai saved his life and was not rewarded for it. Now, notice how timing is everything. Esther, in providential patience, was waiting for God’s timing to tell the king about the genocidal decree that Haman deceptively secured to kill Mordecai and eradicate the Jews. God is bringing that time forth.

Have you ever tried to put together a puzzle with small pieces with no box to show the full picture. I see a puzzle with no box to show the full picture that God is putting together. No one knew the full picture, not Esther, not Mordecai, not the king or Haman, but only God. Years had passed, but on that night, the king had to be sleepless and among all other books of the chronicles, it had to be the one with the story of Mordecai because God wanted to prepare the king's heart and mind. It shows divine timing is not delayed— it is deliberate.

Application

When you are patiently waiting for God’s response, don’t take that as divine deafness but deliberate delay because God is preparing you and others to grant you favor. God’s name is not mentioned in the book of Esther, but every scene shouts His name and every page has His fingerprints because of His providential presence in all details, from the tiniest to the mightiest.

Deceptive Delusion (Esther 6:4-9)

Esther 6:4 continues, “And the king said, ‘Who is in the court?” Now, Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.” Notice, Haman also couldn’t sleep, but his sleep was disrupted by his self-deception and delusion, and pure hate against God and God’s people. However, God didn’t waste that either and used it for His purposes.

Verses 5-9 reads, “⁵ And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” ⁶ So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” ⁷ And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, ⁸ let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set. ⁹ And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” So Haman’s self-deception and delusion led him to set the stage for his own public humiliation. All of this is like a chess game full of a series of moves and counter moves. Every time Satan moves to destroy God’s people, God counters His move by delivering His people. Satan’s move was to not let Haman sleep; God countered that with not letting the king sleep.

We see that move and countermove illustrated even in the story of creation. In the Garden of Eden, God created a beautiful world. He created man and out of man, a woman, his only suited companion. Satan moved to destroy the world and humanity by tempting Eve which resulted in the fall of humanity. God countered his move by declaring a plan to deliver humanity through the blood of His Son Jesus. After the flood, when God restarted the world 2.0 with family of Noah and the animals in the ark. Satan moved to destroy the new world by raising Nimrod, who built the Tower of Babel in defiance of God’s power. God countered Satan’s move by disrupting their communication and dispersing them across the earth. When God called Abram and made a covenant with him to bless nations through the promise of the Messiah who was to come through Israel. Satan’s countered that move by going after Israel. Ever since then, there has been a cosmic battle of moves and countermoves in which God constantly comes to the aid of Israel. Haman is Satan’s move, and Esther is God’s countermove.

Application

No matter how many moves Satan makes against God’s people, in providential presence, God will always counter his move and win because of God’s providence. The word providence has two parts: “pro” and “vide/videre.” When put together, it means “to see before.” God can see before things happen, but Satan can’t. Like us, he is a created being, but he can predict based on his thousands of years of experience with humans. So, what does he do? He tempts us, breaks us, and corrupts us. Self-deception and delusion are two of his most effective tools to bring about our fall, but God can even use that.

 

Dramatic Demotion (Esther 6:10-14)

Esther 6 continues with verses10-13, “¹⁰ Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” ¹¹ So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.” Notice, the man who had the power to hang Mordecai and eradicate his people is now bent to God’s Will and Plan. His position of power was struck down by God. The chapter ends with this, ¹² Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. Earlier Mordecai was mourning and now Haman is mourning.  ¹³ And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.” The same people who told Haman to build the gallows and hang him in the morning is now telling him that he will fall because Mordecai is of the Jewish people. This is a reference to what I shared with you previously about the generational struggle between the Amalekites and Israel.

Esther 6 concludes with verse 14, “While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.” Please notice the sense of rush throughout this chapter— everyone is in hurry.

This is well illustrated in the story of Joseph who said that what his brothers meant for harm, God meant for good. What Haman meant for harm, God has turned into honor. The honor that Haman desired from Mordecai publicly was now being given to Mordecai by Haman.

Application

In providential presence, people are exalted and made humble according to the purpose and will of God.

Closing Thought

As we close, I want to you to reflect on the behind-the-scenes events of divine disruption, deceptive delusion, and dramatic demotion in this chapter. Though there is no immediate rescue, no voice from heaven, and no fire from the sky—  just sovereign silence in deepening darkness, but the delay was not denial.

 Action Step

Try to identify times when God showed up, quietly but powerfully for your deliverance and trust that in the providential presence even now, He is aligning everything to rescue you, deliver you, and fulfill His purpose for you. He doesn’t need to shout or show force. He simply moves the pieces on the board at just the right time.

Appeal

Don’t underestimate the power of divine disruption. Sometimes, divine disruption may cause temporary discomfort and unease, but in the end, it is for God’s good purposes.

Journal your struggles and victories, and in times when you cannot sleep or you are anxious, reflect on those entries of when God delivered you. Researchers tell us that writing, especially by hand, significantly improves memory retention and recall.

Don’t rush ahead of God. Don’t give up in the sovereign silence; rather be like Esther— wait with providential patience and trust that behind the scenes, God is preparing a providential presence that will exceed your imagination.

When your plans are disturbed, your nights are restless, or your routine is interrupted, it may just be that God is setting the stage for your deliverance.

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