He was there the whole time.

And just like that, we’ve reached the end of Esther.

   Ten chapters where God’s name is never actually mentioned, yet by the end it’s impossible to miss how present He was. Esther 10 is only three verses long. Mordecai is now second in rank to King Xerxes, respected by his people and using his position for their good. And I couldn't help but think about Mordecai back in Chapter 2. He did the right thing, his name was written in the royal records and nothing happened.

   Remember when we talked about wanting Chapter 6 answers while we’re still living in Chapter 2? Well, Now we’re in Chapter 10. And looking back, we can finally see how it connected. Esther was in the palace before Haman ever wrote his decree. Mordecai’s faithfulness was recorded before a sleepless king ever needed something to read. While Haman was building a gallows, Esther was preparing a table. They couldn’t see how any of it fit together while they were living it.

                        And Neither can we.

    There are chapters of our lives that just won’t make sense while we’re in them. We don’t have to understand the whole story to be faithful in the chapter we’re living. Hidden does not mean absent.

And tomorrow, we start Job.

   I actually love that Job comes next because Esther taught us to trust God when He seems hidden. Job is going to teach us what it looks like to trust Him when life hurts and we don’t understand why.

    So we’re leaving Esther with the truth we’ve carried through this whole study...We don’t have to see the whole story to trust the One writing it.

God never announced Himself on the pages of Esther, but when we look back, His fingerprints were everywhere.

He was there the whole time.

And whatever chapter comes next, He’ll be there too.

Love Pastor Mandy

Daily Reading Esther 10

MandiesDandies / Ark of Hope 

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