Defining Moments

Coincidence or God’s Sovereignty?

In February, a holiday celebration takes place with which you are probably unfamiliar, unless you come from a Jewish background. Most everyone is familiar with Hanukkah (mainly because of its association with the Christmas season), a Jewish celebration—by the way—that does not have roots in Scripture—history, yes; Scripture, no. But, this other holiday gets far less press.

This relatively little known (at least amongst us gentiles) Jewish holiday was not prescribed by Moses, nor can it be found in the Law, but comes directly from—and only from—the story of Esther. It is the celebration of Purim. Purim commemorates a sort of drawing of straws or casting of lots (the Pur) that, had God not intervened through Queen Esther, would most certainly have set the date for the annihilation of the remnant of Jews left in Persia after their countrymen had returned to Israel from the Babylonian captivity.

Purim celebrates another example of God’s protection of His people, Israel. Today, gifts are exchanged, the story of Esther is recited and when the name of the villain, Ha­man, is mentioned, people (and the kids love this part) spin and rattle their noisemakers to “blot out the name of evil.” Alas, as with most religiously-based holidays, the accouterments; the gifts, costumes and food tend to overshadow the focus on God’s goodness, protection and provision.

As we’ll see in the book of Esther, if not for one little “coincidence” here and there, the Jews in Persia would have been wiped out. Coincidence or providence of God?

The story of Esther is just one example of a reason to believe that God is sovereign over everything; the little, the good, the big and bad things in your life. Esther was born, lost both parents, raised by her cousin, won the title of “Miss Persia” and selected as Queen, all culminating in the incredible salvation of her people, celebrated on Purim. I believe that the events of Esther’s life were orchestrated by God “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

Some people waste precious time and energy, wasting their lives lamenting over a circumstance or choice that took life a direction they weren’t planning to go. But maybe, just maybe, God’s sovereign plan included using that hurtful circumstance to accomplish something greater than could have been accomplished had it not happened.

For example, when I was about 13, I met my friend’s uncle who had been crippled because of a shattered hip he suffered as a result of a fall from a tree as a young child. Decades later I saw what the accident had done to him. Besides having a devastatingly obvious limp, his demeanor was sour, angry and depressed. Regularly he grieved aloud about his childhood decision. “If only I hadn’t climbed that tree” he would say. And my friend’s dad would sternly rebuke his brother for living in the past and not accepting that he can’t change it. But, regret consumed him.

By contrast, this week we hosted Joni Eareckson Tada. She too made a regrettable choice as a kid. She dove into water much too shallow for diving. It rendered her a quadriplegic. The difference between her and my friend’s uncle (despite the fact that he was much more able-bodied than she) is that you get the impression that her saying, “If only I hadn’t…” would amount to an expression of what she might have missed if not for her injury, not a lament about “what might have been.”

Would she have traveled to 52 countries, become a best-selling author, a renowned artist, sought-after speaker, holding multiple honorary doctorates, helping millions of the disabled, head of her own non-profit corporation, etc., had she never had her accident? Probably not, but she would likely have succeeded in other ways.

Would my friend’s uncle have been a depressed grumbler had he never had his accident? Odds are, yes. Because people who see God working in the circumstances—good or bad—don’t rely on circumstances to pursue joy or success. Those who will only accept good circumstances, dismissing God’s sovereignty, will always have something to be disappointed and depressed about. What about you?

“He will do no unrighteousness…He never fails” Zephaniah 3:5 nkjv