God's Power to Overcome our Failures

God’s Power to Overcome Our Sin
Esther 1-5
“And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
The book of Esther is somewhat of an enigma. As we read through the story, we are immediately confronted with a question: “Was Esther’s willingness to become the queen an act of faith or an act of sin?”  To answer the question, some commentators suggest that Esther was forced into the beauty contest against her will. Others suggest that Esther was a willing participant whose willingness to join in an immoral beauty contest was motivated by the desire to become queen rather than a desire to obey God. The Bible neither condones nor condemns her actions; it merely describes the events that led to her selection, setting the stage for the part she would play. The reason is not that the Bible ignores or justifies sin or sinful acts. Instead, the focus is on God’s sovereign control of history, despite people’s sins and failures.   Throughout the Bible, we see time and time again that God can draw a straight line with a crooked stick. He uses sinful people to accomplish His eternal purpose. He used adultery and murder to lead a nation (David), an immoral womanizer to deliver His people (Samson), a staunch persecutor of the church to provide the foundational instruction to the church(Paul), and the list goes on. The message of God’s grace is not about our worthiness of His grace, but His grace and work in our lives despite our sin. Such was the case of Esther. Whether Esther was right or wrong is not relevant to the story, for the story is not about Esther, but about God’s sovereignty as He works through people.
As Esther wrestled with her response to the threat of the destruction of the Jews, Mordecai reminded Esther that God orchestrates our lives and events for a divine purpose. Regardless of how or why Esther became the queen, the vital point is that God had superseded the events to position Esther in a place where she could act on behalf of the Jews. God’s sovereign governance of the affairs and circumstances of life is seen throughout the narrative. It was not by happenstance that Vashti chose to disregard Ahasuerus' request. It was no coincidence that Esther was chosen from among the many beautiful young women. It was not an accident that Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate when two men were plotting to assassinate the King. Long before Haman developed his plot to kill all the Jews, God was already orchestrating the events to bring about their deliverance. Man’s folly or failure is not a threat to God’s plans for His people and or control of the events of history. God not only has the power to forgive and cleanse us of our past, but He also has the power to utilize our past to accomplish His divine purpose.
The lesson we learn from Esther is one we need to apply in our own lives as we face trials, challenges, and threats. It is a lesson we must remember when we consider the uncertainty of our day or the political upheaval in our country and around the world. We can rest without fear or apprehension because God is in control, and He orchestrates the events in the world despite people's sin and folly.  
Furthermore, He can use us in ways we cannot imagine, despite our past failures and sins. Even when we have failed to trust God and obey Him, He can still use us to accomplish His purpose. Instead of our past nullifying God’s will for our lives, God can weave our failures into the tapestry of His plan to fulfill His purpose. Instead of looking at the mistakes we make in the past, look for God’s hand in the present. What is He doing in your life in the present to use you to accomplish His eternal purpose? Like Esther, the circumstances we face in the present may be how God will use us to accomplish His eternal purpose.