WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.339 Our Father and our Lord, we thank you for your word. 00:00:02.480 --> 00:00:06.480 We ask now that as we look at it a little more closely, 00:00:06.660 --> 00:00:10.880 Lord, might you by your spirit speak to each and every one of us. 00:00:11.019 --> 00:00:18.640 Might you help me be clear in what it is that you wish to speak today. 00:00:19.059 --> 00:00:19.400 Amen. 00:00:21.140 --> 00:00:22.539 Well, Esther. 00:00:22.539 --> 00:00:28.420 I think many people actually think that Esther is a little bit like a fairy tale, 00:00:28.420 --> 00:00:31.400 but let me tell you a fairy tale it is not. 00:00:32.399 --> 00:00:39.140 There is, though, a young girl who wins the King's Beauty Pageant 00:00:39.140 --> 00:00:44.799 that is similar to a TV show that some of you might have seen, 00:00:44.900 --> 00:00:46.680 The Bachelor, on TV. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:50.799 There is lust, there is sex, there is power, there is greed, 00:00:51.240 --> 00:00:53.240 there is money, there is deceit. 00:00:53.240 --> 00:01:00.200 Practically all of the seven deadly sins are mentioned here in this story. 00:01:00.880 --> 00:01:03.620 And we wonder, how is that? 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:05.040 Why is that? 00:01:05.520 --> 00:01:07.939 Well, we come to our second message from Esther. 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:12.379 And last week, Steve left us with the question, what if? 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:16.540 What if Queen Vashti didn't stand her ground? 00:01:16.540 --> 00:01:23.100 What if the king was a strong character and was wise in all the decisions he made? 00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:26.580 What if Esther wasn't chosen as queen? 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:32.180 What if Mordecai had brought Esther up to actually share the fact that she was a Jew 00:01:32.180 --> 00:01:36.160 in the society that she was in? 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:37.280 What if? 00:01:38.020 --> 00:01:40.680 Well, today's passage is no different. 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:45.060 And we can continue to ask the what if question. 00:01:45.060 --> 00:01:51.439 Now, I have been quite disturbed as I've been reading Esther 00:01:51.439 --> 00:01:54.680 and reading the various commentaries on Esther. 00:01:55.240 --> 00:02:02.640 In fact, at times, I have felt quite angry, felt the anger rising up in me. 00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:10.099 I have felt self-righteous at some of the stupidity that occurs in this story. 00:02:10.099 --> 00:02:19.259 And then, I have to actually realise that I too make foolish decisions. 00:02:20.199 --> 00:02:25.060 I too hide the fact that I belong to Jesus sometimes. 00:02:25.639 --> 00:02:31.079 I too am silent when I need to speak and sometimes I speak when I need to be silent. 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:38.660 Well, there is much for us to learn. 00:02:38.659 --> 00:02:50.620 And we learn here at the end of chapter 2 that there is dissension within the gates where the king's guards are. 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:53.939 What their exact problem is, we don't know. 00:02:54.099 --> 00:02:56.539 We can guess, but we don't know. 00:02:56.539 --> 00:03:04.019 But it's a big enough problem for these two characters that we read about to plan to kill the king. 00:03:04.620 --> 00:03:05.899 No mean feat. 00:03:06.519 --> 00:03:10.780 Mordecai, Esther's cousin, we read, is at the king's gate. 00:03:11.099 --> 00:03:17.019 And that tells us that Mordecai holds some sort of political office. 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:23.500 Since it's at the king's gate that most of the official business takes place. 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:28.319 Now, whilst at the gate, Mordecai learns of the plot to kill the king. 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:32.319 And he tells Esther so that she can warn the king. 00:03:32.759 --> 00:03:35.379 Now, that is all investigated. 00:03:35.939 --> 00:03:37.500 And it's found to be true. 00:03:38.039 --> 00:03:45.560 And so, the king has the two guards killed for their attempt and their discussions to do so. 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:54.840 The fact that Mordecai at this stage is not rewarded will be taken up in a couple of weeks by Steve. 00:03:55.159 --> 00:04:03.539 But it would have been a normal thing for him to have been rewarded for the knowledge of protecting the king. 00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:09.259 It does, though, remain an important point, even though we're not going to discuss it. 00:04:09.259 --> 00:04:12.120 And yet again, we want to ask the what if. 00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:18.099 What if Mordecai did not hear about the plot against the king? 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:28.240 Or what if Mordecai was rewarded right at the time of actually sending the message via Esther to the king to warn him of the assassination? 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:37.060 What is the purpose of the Lord to have this scene within this story? 00:04:38.400 --> 00:04:42.500 Well, they're questions we need to leave for a little later. 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:46.540 So, we are going to come to chapter 3. 00:04:46.699 --> 00:04:53.800 And when we come to chapter 3, there's been four years between the end of chapter 2 and the beginning of chapter 3. 00:04:53.800 --> 00:05:00.759 And we see here that Haman is elevated by the king. 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:05.939 Not Mordecai, as we would have thought, but that's for another day. 00:05:06.420 --> 00:05:11.100 But let me tell you a little bit about Haman, because this is really important. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:18.080 We learned in chapter 2 that Mordecai was a descendant of King Saul. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:30.019 Haman, who is the antagonist in this story, the arch-nemesis of Mordecai and the Israelite people, is an Agagite. 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:33.139 He was a descendant of Agag. 00:05:33.699 --> 00:05:35.000 Who was Agag? 00:05:35.500 --> 00:05:40.899 He was the king of the Amalekites during the time of Saul. 00:05:40.899 --> 00:05:48.879 Now, the descendants of the Amalekites were always at war with the Israelites. 00:05:49.799 --> 00:05:57.419 One of the more famous battles is in Exodus 17, where the Israelites were winning against the Amalekites, 00:05:57.719 --> 00:06:03.279 only as long as Moses kept his staff raised in the air, 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:10.579 and eventually Joshua and Caleb actually had to help hold his arm up so that they would win the battle. 00:06:10.899 --> 00:06:19.500 In the period of the Judges, we read again and again of the Amalekites and the many troubles that they caused Israel. 00:06:20.299 --> 00:06:26.219 And finally, in 1 Samuel 15, we read of a deadly serious story. 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:36.879 King Saul is to attack the Amalekites and put them all to death, young and old, including all the animals. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:41.379 But King Saul does not obey God. 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:52.120 Instead, he takes the best animals for himself, which he tries to excuse by saying he will sacrifice them to the Lord. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:07:02.420 But aside from the animals, King Saul allows the king of the Amalekites to live. 00:07:02.420 --> 00:07:04.920 And who was that king? 00:07:05.520 --> 00:07:07.240 That was King Agag. 00:07:08.660 --> 00:07:16.660 Then the prophet Samuel comes and confronts Saul with his sin, and then Samuel goes and kills King Agag himself. 00:07:17.060 --> 00:07:22.120 But apparently, some of Agag's children escape. 00:07:22.120 --> 00:07:30.399 Because 600 years later, we come across Haman the Agagite. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:34.680 Haman, the descendant of King Agag. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:43.439 He certainly remembers what has happened to his family in the past at the hands of the Israelites. 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:48.240 And he is out for bloody revenge. 00:07:48.240 --> 00:08:03.480 Now, coming back to Esther here, we now see that Haman is elevated and the king orders that everyone is to bow before Haman in honour. 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:10.360 Now, this is nothing more than just showing respect to somebody in this position. 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:18.300 It would be the same as us bowing or curtsying before the queen if she actually came to visit us. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:23.360 But there is one who refuses to bow. 00:08:24.759 --> 00:08:31.759 Now, don't make a mistake and think that Mordecai is not bowing because it has something to do with his religious beliefs. 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:33.200 That is not the case. 00:08:33.940 --> 00:08:39.039 Mordecai knows only too well that Haman is an Agagite. 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:46.939 And he would know that they were the arch enemies of the people of God. 00:08:48.339 --> 00:08:57.919 Mordecai's refusal to bow may have well been just totally out of bitterness and hatred of the Amalekites. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:06.759 Now, so often we become bitter and twisted because of past events. 00:09:07.459 --> 00:09:14.639 That we hold on to the bitterness and the anger and we refuse to hand that over to Jesus. 00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:26.259 How often in arguments, if any of you argue, that maybe you bring up things that have happened in the past into a current argument of today. 00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:31.919 I certainly have been guilty of that and I have needed to repent of it. 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:45.600 Or we may follow what we have been taught by our parents or society to follow a hatred or a racism that has been passed down to us. 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:49.940 We want justice because we are sinful people. 00:09:51.019 --> 00:09:59.820 And if we don't get the same justice that we think that we deserve, then we get angry and bitter. 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:08.279 But scripture tells us that there is only one just judge and that is Jesus. 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:14.659 And he will be the one who will right every wrong. 00:10:16.199 --> 00:10:23.600 One Peter actually tells us, speaking of Jesus, when they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate. 00:10:23.959 --> 00:10:26.220 When he suffered, he made no threats. 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:32.139 Instead, he entrusted to the one who judges justly. 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:38.659 And in Revelation, we learn of Jesus returning and making all things new. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:46.580 The things that were seen to be unfair and unjust are going to be made new. 00:10:47.199 --> 00:10:49.639 What a day that will be. 00:10:50.819 --> 00:11:00.019 Now, Mordecai shares his reason for not bowing to Haman with the officials that are trying to encourage him to bow. 00:11:00.019 --> 00:11:06.819 And just maybe he might have given the officials a history lesson, but the passage actually doesn't tell us that. 00:11:07.819 --> 00:11:19.439 But we do see that the fact that what he actually said, what he shared, it was shared with Haman. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:31.620 And of course, the rage within Haman and the rage toward the people of Israel, God's people, grew exponentially. 00:11:32.420 --> 00:11:34.620 That is what bitterness can do. 00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:40.240 The bitterness and the hatred could not be quenched by just killing Mordecai. 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:47.680 We see Haman decide on the need for a genocide of the Jewish race. 00:11:48.180 --> 00:11:50.440 A little over the top, one would think. 00:11:50.960 --> 00:12:00.419 And we see a king who we have already seen to be outrageous and over the top and lacking wisdom. 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:05.340 We see that he actually agrees with him. 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:17.759 And yet, why are we, God's people, so constantly surprised when life gets tough? 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:30.980 Because scripture is very, very clear that it says that if we are the people of God and we are going to stand up for God, it is not going to be easy. 00:12:30.980 --> 00:12:37.720 You must go through many trials before we enter the kingdom of God. 00:12:38.279 --> 00:12:46.600 2 Timothy says, do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, but join with me in the suffering for the gospel by the power of God. 00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:52.899 Romans says, now if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. 00:12:53.240 --> 00:12:58.820 If indeed we share in his sufferings, in order that we may also share in his glory. 00:12:58.820 --> 00:13:05.200 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. 00:13:06.180 --> 00:13:13.420 We are so slow to learn that the Christian life, we are to expect some tough times. 00:13:15.500 --> 00:13:22.860 And surprisingly, or maybe not, this plan to destroy God's people is not a new thing. 00:13:22.860 --> 00:13:33.480 Throughout history, and even today, there has always been attempts to kill God's people, or at least to silence them. 00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:50.680 The ultimate being the crucifixion of Jesus, our Saviour, which was meant to be a win for evil, of which we know it was the greatest win for God's people and for God. 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:57.339 Is God sovereign at all times throughout history? 00:13:58.059 --> 00:14:02.259 Is God aware of what is happening here in Esther? 00:14:03.079 --> 00:14:04.620 Is he at work? 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:08.199 Nothing is said of God here in Esther. 00:14:09.479 --> 00:14:14.279 But we see his hand working time and time again. 00:14:15.199 --> 00:14:16.819 Look with me at verse 7. 00:14:16.820 --> 00:14:19.920 Verse 7 says, 00:14:19.920 --> 00:14:30.220 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, they cast the purr, that is the lot, in the presence of Haman, to select a day and a month. 00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:35.220 And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:37.400 Now the purr is the lot. 00:14:37.640 --> 00:14:43.680 It's a set of dice, or die is the word, but it seems so odd to say it's a set of die. 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:49.339 But anyway, these die don't have dots on them like ours do. 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:56.079 They rather would have inscriptions of prayers for good luck on them. 00:14:56.439 --> 00:15:07.459 And probably they had a board with all the months written on it, and whatever month the purr would land on, that is the month that they would choose. 00:15:07.460 --> 00:15:15.900 And typically the same answer would have to come three times in a row to be considered as a valid answer. 00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:23.060 Now they were casting lots because the Persian religious system stressed fate and chance. 00:15:23.780 --> 00:15:25.900 They were very superstitious. 00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:41.059 Little did they realise, though, that the God who created all things and controls all events was also in control of lot casting. 00:15:42.120 --> 00:15:43.679 Proverbs 16 says, 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:50.399 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:54.779 The lot fell, and we see here on the twelfth month. 00:15:55.259 --> 00:15:57.519 So that's about one year away. 00:15:58.199 --> 00:15:59.959 No accident, that one year. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:08.399 In verse 8, we see Haman exploiting his access and his intimacy with the king. 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:12.799 He goes in to share his plan with him. 00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:15.879 Haman makes two statements here. 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:23.320 First, he says that there's a people dispersed all over the kingdom with different customs. 00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:24.860 This is true. 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:27.620 And it is not a bad thing. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:31.320 In fact, there were hundreds of people like this. 00:16:31.419 --> 00:16:33.519 Remember, it's a massive area. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:37.960 The Persians prided themselves on their diversity. 00:16:39.100 --> 00:16:44.299 They were the melting pot of the ancient Near East. 00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:53.740 But secondly, he accuses the Israelites, these people, of failing to obey the king's laws. 00:16:54.559 --> 00:16:58.659 This was, on the most part, just an outright lie. 00:16:59.939 --> 00:17:05.779 Haman says that the solution is to kill all the Israelites throughout the empire. 00:17:06.180 --> 00:17:11.879 This would include those over in Israel who were trying to rebuild the temple. 00:17:11.880 --> 00:17:17.140 The king would be better off, Haman says, if they were all exterminated. 00:17:18.040 --> 00:17:23.480 But note that Haman apparently doesn't even name the race of the people involved. 00:17:23.800 --> 00:17:26.680 He just calls them a certain people. 00:17:27.840 --> 00:17:31.660 He continues in verse 9 and he says, 00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:51.300 Haman, because of his position, had become extremely rich. 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:56.220 The 10,000 talents was a huge amount. 00:17:57.220 --> 00:18:00.259 Now, Haman, of course, is not stupid. 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:03.399 Well, we might question that. 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:05.720 But on this money side of it, he's not stupid. 00:18:06.079 --> 00:18:11.019 He knows that when he exterminates the Jews, 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:15.180 he'll get much more than 10,000 talents of silver 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:19.899 to replace what he has paid to the king if the king takes it. 00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:21.100 How is that? 00:18:21.360 --> 00:18:24.180 Well, in the law at this time, 00:18:24.560 --> 00:18:29.680 if you accuse someone of a crime and they are found guilty 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:32.080 and were put to death, 00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:36.360 you've got to keep all of their land and their possessions. 00:18:37.580 --> 00:18:38.380 Pretty amazing. 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:43.820 Haman knows this, so this is a business venture for him. 00:18:44.540 --> 00:18:46.540 He is a venture capitalist 00:18:46.539 --> 00:18:49.639 looking to make some easy money 00:18:49.639 --> 00:18:54.740 along with getting the revenge that he so desperately is wanting. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:57.079 Does the king take the bait? 00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:01.220 You betcha, because he's a very unwise king. 00:19:03.879 --> 00:19:05.139 Verse 10 says, 00:19:05.140 --> 00:19:07.680 So the king took his signet ring from his finger 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:11.980 and gave it to Haman, son of Hamadatha, 00:19:12.520 --> 00:19:16.560 the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:23.080 Xerxes, as always, is easily influenced by his officials. 00:19:23.580 --> 00:19:26.740 And he doesn't even investigate the accusations. 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:33.240 He doesn't even know that his own wife is part of this whole deal. 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:36.640 And of course, once again, 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:40.900 he shows no concern for anyone but himself. 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:44.920 He disregards all the people that will be killed 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:46.859 and he doesn't seem to care. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:53.140 Both Haman and the king would profit from this 00:19:53.140 --> 00:19:57.059 as they were going to do the plundering of the Israelites, 00:19:57.579 --> 00:20:01.440 as we see when they draft the edict. 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:03.960 In verse 12, it says, 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:06.140 Then on the 19th day of the first month 00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:07.980 of the royal secretaries was summoned. 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:11.279 They wrote out in the script of each province 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:14.400 and in the language of each of the people 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:16.940 all Haman's orders to the king's satraps, 00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:18.880 the governors of the various provinces 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:21.460 and the nobles of the various peoples. 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:25.440 These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:27.980 and sealed with his own ring. 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:46.299 The edict is sent out on the 13th day of the month 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:51.019 of Adar and to plunder their goods. 00:20:52.859 --> 00:20:59.539 The edict is sent out on the 13th day of the first month. 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:03.940 Ironically, or is it coincidentally, 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:09.099 or is it the sovereign Lord's hand at work? 00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:13.019 This is the eve of the Passover, 00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:17.359 which is held on the 14th day of the first month, 00:21:17.619 --> 00:21:18.539 the month of Nisan. 00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:21.519 The Passover, you will remember, 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:24.259 was a holiday for the Jews, 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:28.219 celebrating when they were delivered from destruction 00:21:28.219 --> 00:21:29.859 at the hand of the Egyptians. 00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:35.339 So just as they are celebrating their freedom and deliverance, 00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:40.439 they receive news that the government plans to annihilate them. 00:21:41.979 --> 00:21:48.159 The decree was dispatched in March of 474 BC. 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:54.619 Both sides had a whole year to get ready for this. 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:58.379 The decree is not telling all the people 00:21:58.380 --> 00:22:00.060 that they can kill the Israelites. 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:03.000 Rather, it's telling them 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:06.100 what the military is going to be doing 00:22:06.100 --> 00:22:08.280 in a year from now. 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:12.780 So be warned and don't be scared, 00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:16.360 unless, of course, you're an Israelite. 00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:22.600 There was a sense of uncertainty for a whole year. 00:22:24.300 --> 00:22:26.060 Verse 15 says, 00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:46.940 The edict bewildered and perplexed the people of Susa. 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:53.819 Apparently, such a decree had never come from the royal court before. 00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:56.439 Haman's bloodthirstiness, 00:22:56.839 --> 00:23:03.179 along with King Xerxes' seeming indifference to such atrocities, 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:05.299 appeared incredible, 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:08.480 even to the sophisticated society, 00:23:08.839 --> 00:23:11.059 which was used to cruel behaviour. 00:23:12.439 --> 00:23:14.220 You would understand if the question, 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:18.240 you would understand if the question the people of God were asking 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:21.680 was, where is God here? 00:23:22.460 --> 00:23:26.059 Has he abandoned us and forgotten about them? 00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:30.420 Now, God had promised on Mount Sinai, 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:31.940 back in Exodus 17, 00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:34.519 to protect Israel, 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:38.980 and that he would be at war for them 00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:40.940 in every generation, 00:23:41.579 --> 00:23:42.680 with their enemies, 00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:46.560 and especially against the Amalekites. 00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:51.900 So now the Israelites would be asking themselves, 00:23:52.340 --> 00:23:56.539 do God's promises still stand? 00:23:57.460 --> 00:24:02.560 Will he still fight for us against Haman, the Amalekite? 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:06.759 Would God keep his part of the covenant, 00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:10.720 even though they had failed theirs? 00:24:11.779 --> 00:24:15.720 Was the covenant even in effect anymore? 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:21.339 Even when all the cards are stacked against us, 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:24.279 and there seems to be no hope, 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:29.299 will God prove himself faithful and powerful 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:31.539 against all odds? 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:35.039 Those are the questions. 00:24:35.659 --> 00:24:40.259 Those are the questions that the rest of the story will answer. 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:42.700 And when we see the answers, 00:24:43.579 --> 00:24:49.299 we will learn that God is sovereign at all times, 00:24:49.639 --> 00:24:51.339 in all ways. 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:55.639 If you ever have to face a crisis, 00:24:55.640 --> 00:25:00.540 or if you are facing a crisis right now, 00:25:01.259 --> 00:25:02.600 you may be wondering, 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:05.340 what is God doing? 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:09.040 Or, has God forgotten me? 00:25:10.120 --> 00:25:13.360 The rest of Esther will tell us 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:15.380 that God has not forgotten. 00:25:16.360 --> 00:25:19.240 He sees what his people are going through. 00:25:20.180 --> 00:25:24.100 And it is as Jesus said in Matthew chapter 10, 00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:28.619 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? 00:25:29.139 --> 00:25:32.099 And not one of them falls to the ground 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:33.980 apart from the Father's will. 00:25:34.619 --> 00:25:38.000 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:40.039 Do not fear, therefore. 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:44.539 You are more value than many sparrows. 00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:47.119 God knows. 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.859 God sees. 00:25:49.419 --> 00:25:52.579 He has not forgotten or overlooked his people. 00:25:52.579 --> 00:25:55.299 He has not overlooked you. 00:25:56.039 --> 00:25:59.439 He will take care of his children. 00:26:00.439 --> 00:26:00.740 Amen.