Esther 2:19-23 – Watch Where the Camera Zooms

For those of you in the UK, have you ever seen Casualty on TV? If you haven’t, you’re not missing much. It’s a drama set in a busy hospital as the medics deal with the injuries that come their way.

What I find interesting about Casualty is the sheer predictability of the storylines. Is that man climbing a ladder? You can be sure he’s going to end up in the Emergency Department. Is that car’s tyre looking a little frayed? You can be sure the car will crash before the credits roll.

You can foresee these disasters because there is a writer behind the scenes. Every detail is carefully designed in order to weave the story together. The writer has a plan and these small details bring that plan to fruition. If the camera zooms in on a balding tyre, you’d better believe that it’s central to what the writer has in store.

Esther chapter 2 finishes with the camera zooming in. Not on a wonky ladder or a balding tyre, but on a rather dry looking history book (v23). Mordecai the Jew had become Mordecai the hero as he gallantly saved the King’s life (v22). You would expect his life to be completely transformed as Ahasuerus lavished him with gifts. You would expect a prompt promotion and a princely pay rise. You would expect a bigger house and a better life. If the King wants to survive the next time, he’d better reward the one who saved his skin.

So what did Mordecai get? Nothing at all. No knighthood. No bonus. Not even a measly thank you card! Perhaps he spent months eagerly waiting for the recognition he deserved until eventually he gave up. His actions appeared to be in vain. But not so fast! The camera zooms in on this dull looking book. God, the master planner has got something up his sleeve. We’ll have to trust him and wait patiently to see what he has in store. Isn’t that always the way of faith?

Questions
1. Things didn’t work out the way Mordecai would have liked, but eventually they worked out much better. Can you think of times that God has done that in your life?
2. It can be hard to wait and see what God is doing. What can help us to wait patiently?

Prayer Points
1. Pray that God would help you to believe that he is in control of the big things and the minor details.
2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
3. Pray for family matters.