People in Exile - Presence in the Absence

Presence in the Absence

Text: Esther 2:1-18 (You can read chapter 1 as well as it sets up the story)

All too often we find obstacles in life – things that push us away from our plans or away from how we think things should go. In normal life, we might deal with the loss of a loved one, a forced move, or the repercussions from choices made. Today, we all deal with the obstacle of Covid-19. It has interrupted our routines, our plans, our dreams, our futures.

Too often when faced with such times we also face the seeming absence of God. Unlike Moses, there is no burning bush calling out to us with plans. Unlike Isaiah, we do not encounter God in a vision of heaven, in which we are directed to act in a specific way. We exist and God seems outside of that existence.

This is how the people of Israel feel as they live in Susa, Persia at the start of the book of Esther. This is a people in exile. They rebelled against God and God came against them, sending them into a foreign land. They are away from the Temple, away from the Promised Land. In their thought this means they are away from God. Without the Temple, there is no divine presence to whom the people can go for worship and direction.

The author of Esther chooses a very unique way of presenting this reality. The author uses a literary technique of absence to declare the feelings of those in exile. In this historical retelling, the name of God does not appear. In the everyday activities the people feel that God does not appear. They are a people in exile. Too often we are a people in exile. Let’s begin to look at the story in this book to discover the truth of God’s presence even when we feel His absence.

The book of Esther tells the story of a people, the Hebrew people, apart from their homeland. The story begins by setting up the need that King Xerxes has for a new queen. In the king’s search for a new queen, he discovers the beautiful Hebrew woman: Hadassah or Esther. What will be discovered as the story continues is that there is an unseen hand moving and blessing the Hebrew people. Esther is elevated to the position of queen for a specific reason.

These behind the scene actions by a seemingly absent God reveal truths that can comfort us as we deal with the question of “Where is God?” in the midst of our current circumstances:

1.       God seems absent from this narrative. We never hear his name. In fact, the primary character of the story is encouraged to deny her heritage with the Hebrew people.

2.       Yet, God is present, sustaining His people. God chooses an individual from a remnant so that His people might rise up and have a place even as they are separate from the Temple and amongst the revelry, gods and materialism of the pagan lands.

3.       Life circumstances cannot subvert God’s sovereign plan or the protection He affords to His covenant people.

4.       God moves all history forward and works within that history to uphold the promises of His word.

5.       Often we find ourselves in exile. In the midst of this exile God is present even when He appears absent.

Prayer: All Present God, when I am honest, it feels that you sometimes abandon me. When I find myself feeling this way help me to rest in the truth that you promise to uphold those who seek after you. Help me to realize that a God who is love will never forsake the beloved. In Jesus name, Amen!