When I was an undergraduate, back before most of you were
born, I mentioned recently in our study of James. His name was Dr. Delvin
Covey. Like James who says, “Come now you rich…”, Covey famously slapped down a
student this way, “Class, let’s move on before we have time to contemplate that
last comment.”
But there’s another memory I have of Dr. Covey, one that
involves his response to a fellow professor. The other professor was new to
campus. He had little knowledge of Covey or his pedigree. One day, in a lecture
hall full of students, he asked Covey, “How is it that a Gordon professor made
it all the way to Yalta as a translator for President Roosevelt?”
Now, you may recall that the Yalta Conference occurred in
Eastern Europe in February 1945. It was a summit in which the leaders of the United
States, the United Kingdom, and Russia met to determine the future of postwar
Germany and the rest of Europe.
Covey paused a moment, then replied for all to hear, “My
dear sir the question is not how did I get to Yalta, but how did I ever get
here?” I was reminded of Dr. Covey’s comment when Ellen Dillard, our Children’s
Ministry Director, gave me a copy of the questions to be addressed this month
at Vacation Bible School. The question for Day 2 (or this week’s message) is particularly
interesting. “How can you live like God has a plan for you?” I can hear Dr.
Covey, and anyone with the slightest biblical acumen answering, “How can you
not?” In other words, what possible evidence can you provide that God does not
have a plan for every life?
In theology it’s called the doctrine of divine providence.
(You may want to read the bulletin insert this week for a fuller description of
this doctrine.) The Bible clearly testifies (on nearly every page) that God is executing
His plan meticulously throughout all of human history.
Perhaps the clearest expression of His providence is the incomparable
words of Joseph to his brothers in Genesis 50, “You meant it for evil, but God
meant it for good.” But there are other profound illustrations in both Testaments, including the story of
Esther. Think of it. Here’s a young exiled Jewess who becomes Queen of Persia
by divine providence. God puts her there to deliver His people from slaughter
by a proud and power-hungry king who just happens to be her husband! This ten
chapter book screams of God’s providential role in every circumstance of every
life. We will highlight this fact on Sunday in a message entitled “The Great
Planner”. The text is Esther 1:1-5, 10-12 and 2:1-4, 15-23. In preparation for
Sunday’s message you may wish to consider the following:
- Consider reading the Book of Esther.
- How many times is God mentioned in the Book of Esther?
- More than a century before the king’s party (in Chapter 1) God had moved a Persian King (Cyrus) to allow Jewish exiles to return to their homeland. Where’s God’s grace on display in the story of Esther?
- Ahasureus is the Babylonian name of this Persian king. His Persian name is better known. What is it?
- On what grounds does the king “divorce” his wife Vashti?
- What New Testament parallels come to mind when you think: wine, women, and debauchery?
- How does God use the king’s sin to bring about His purposes in chapter 2?
- On what grounds does the king choose Esther to be queen? Can you think of any Old and New Testament parallels?
- How does Mordecai prove in chapter 2 that God’s in charge?
- How does God use the Book of Esther to show us what true trust and worship are?
