DATE: 8–3-25

As always it’s a joy to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And there’s one thing I want you to know — and this is true if you’re worshiping with us for the first time — if you’re joining us at our North Main Campus or are with our friends in Bucyrus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.

INTRODUCTION

We’re continuing our series in Romans this weekend. We’re in the practical application section of Paul’s letter where — after eleven chapters of rich theological truths — Paul shows us how what we believe is to shape how we live. That’s the journey we began with Paul’s “therefore” statement…

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Paul tells us to live our lives as sacrificial offerings to God — where our lives are acts of worship that make our God look glorious to the world because of what we believe. And — one of the ways that our lives can make God look glorious to the world — is something we’ve been looking at for a few weeks. For Paul’s forcing us into the nitty gritty of life so we see how — what we believe — is to shape how we live. And this is all incredibly practical stuff — for it addresses how the Christian faith actually changes us.

So — if you have your Bible — please turn with me to Romans chapter thirteen. We’ll be in Romans chapter thirteen — looking at verses one through seven. There Paul writes…

Romans 13:1–7 ESV

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

If you’re just joining us, two weeks ago we saw that what this text teaches is pretty straightforward — it’s not hard to understand. But we returned to this passage for a second and third week because — though it’s straightforward and easy to understand — applying this text is where things get hard. Last week we looked at what God’s Word says both to those in authority and those under authority and — today — we’ll look at some implications of this text and how we’re to live because of our faith in Jesus Christ.

Now — if you wouldn’t call yourself a Christian — know that we’ll be talking about politics today — but not how you might think. You see — when we talk about submitting to authority — one area of life where this can’t be ignored is in the area of government. And — generally speaking — politics is a religion in our country. And we’re a nation full of fully devoted followers of the religions of the Republican and Democrat parties. 

For example, it’s not a surprise to me that — after the first week on authority and submission — I started hearing you all ask the question, “What about Hitler?” Our culture’s aversion to submission has made Hitler the go to example. First, I don’t know that Nero — the Roman Emperor that Paul refers to in Romans — was much better than Hitler. Admittedly we don’t have near the detailed history on Nero that we do on Hitler — but what we do have on Nero isn’t all warm and fuzzy. 

And — second — and this gets to the religiousness of politics in our country — both political parties in our country love to compare the other side to Hitler and Nazism.

On the right — author Eric Metaxas — in his book Letter to the American Church — essentially compares living under the Biden administration to living in Germany in the 1930s, compares the American Church of today with the German Church of the 1930’s — who conceded to Hitler — and uses Dietrich Bonhoeffer as the example of how Christians should respond to what was happening in the US with civil disobedience.

But now that Trump is president — Bonhoeffer is the example used by the left because — of course — Trump is like Hitler, the Republican Party is like the Nazis, and so on. When the other party’s in charge — this is absolutely believable. But when your party’s in charge — it’s absolutely ridiculous to make such a comparison. And — that’s the case — because — politics is a religion in our country.

Now — today — as I promised — we’ll focus on two questions: When to obey authority and when to disobey authority.

THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT

But — first — we need to talk about the purpose of government according to the Bible. Did you know that God has a purpose for government? That’s what Paul tells us in verse three when he writes…

Romans 13:3–4 ESV

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Government — when it fulfills its God-given purpose — will promote what is good and prohibit and punish what is evil — good and evil as defined by God. This is God’s purpose for our government — here in the United States, here in Ohio, and here in Findlay. Yet this is also God’s purpose for the governments of the United Kingdom, Brazil, Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. All governments have this purpose — no government is outside of God’s authority and — as governing authorities under his absolute authority — they have an obligation to do what God has created them to do.

This is no different than God’s purpose for any of us as individuals. For example, God has a purpose for every single Christian.

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Every single Christian has been saved by God to make him look glorious to the world by doing the works he’s called us to do.

God has also created the church — a gathering of his people here on earth — for a purpose. The way we describe this purpose at Gateway is “we exist to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ.” For Jesus said…

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

And — in our verses from Romans — Paul tells us that the purpose of government is to promote what is good and to punish what is evil. When governments — any government — promote what is good and punish what is evil it is fulfilling its God given purpose. And when governments — any government — don’t do this — they’re not fulfilling their God given purpose.

As I mentioned two weeks ago — the Westminster Confession of Faith — our denomination’s doctrinal standard — says…

God, the supreme Lord and King of the whole world, has ordained civil authorities to be over people under him for his own glory and the public good. For this purpose he has armed civil authorities with the power of the sword to defend and encourage those who are good and to punish wrongdoers. (WCF 23.1)

But did you notice how Paul describes governing authorities as God’s servant? Some translations have “God’s ministers.” This tells us that those who serve in government are not to be self-serving — how about that for a radical idea? Instead, those serving in government are to serve their citizens with the purpose of God being glorified. For that’s what it means to be a servant of God. 

Additionally, being called God’s servant implies that those in government have an obligation to submit themselves to God’s authority, commands, and definition of what is good and what is evil. Those in government are not free to do whatever they want. They’re not free to choose what is good and what isn’t. They’re not free from authority — but occupy a position of authority because they’ve been appointed by God and are under his authority.

Like I said last week — Paul’s words would’ve been a warning to Caesar — the emperor of Rome. A man who assumed he was at the top of the authority org chart. The man everyone else in the Roman Empire also assumed was at the top of the authority org chart. To the emperor, Paul says, “Caesar, you’re God’s servant. He’s put you in authority to do his purpose. You’re no god — you’re a servant of God.”

Instead of “in God we trust” on their coins — the Roman Empire had some variation of “Caesar is Lord” or “Caesar, the son of a god” on them. If only we — the citizens of a nation who have “in God we trust” on our money — would live up to our motto. The citizens of the Roman Empire — they lived up to their motto — which is why Jesus was once questioned about whether people should pay taxes to Caesar or not. So he asked for a Roman coin…

Mark 12:16–17 ESV

16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.

A Roman Coin had Caesar’s image on it — so give the coin back to Caesar — pay your taxes. But don’t forget that God has put his image on something — and that is something all of us are to give back to him. 

Do you know what that something is? Us — for we’re all made in the image of God — Christian or not — including Caesar. Including President Trump, and Governor DeWine, and Mayor Muryn, and all who serve in government — here in the US — and anywhere else. 

All of this is on Paul’s mind when he calls those in government God’s servants. “Give yourself first to God — so that — in your position of authority — you promote what God has said is good and punish what God has said is evil.” 

• Mr. President, give yourself first to God — so that — in your position of authority you promote only what God has said is good and punish only what God has said is evil.
• Mr. Governor, give yourself first to God — so that — in your position of authority you promote only what God has said is good and punish only what God has said is evil.
• Madame Mayor, give yourself first to God — so that — in your position of authority you promote only what God has said is good and punish only what God has said is evil.

As followers of Jesus, this is to be our attitude towards those in government — when the person in office is who we voted for and when it’s not. And — this being our posture — means that we’ll be different than those who are followers of the Republican or Democrat religions. For we take God at his Word — and trust that there is no governing authority except those who’ve been appointed by God to be his servant. Including Nero. Including Biden. Including Trump. And — yes — even including Hitler. For the only alternative is to believe that God’s sovereign authority is limited — that he’s not above Nero or Hitler or Biden or Trump. And a God who isn’t above all things, people, places, and nations is not a god worthy of our worship.

WHEN TO OBEY AUTHORITY

With that being said — and in knowing that all those who serve in earthly authority are sinners and may inadvertently or purposely promote what God has said is evil and punish what God has said is good — including those who are members of your political party — we now turn to the nitty-gritty and controversial topics of when to obey those in authority and when to disobey.

Let’s begin with when to obey authority. But — first — a reminder of what Paul tells us.

Romans 13:1–2 ESV

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

As I’ve been reiterating, God — in being sovereign — in being in control of all things — has appointed all who hold a position of authority — including those in government. 

• The people you voted for. 
• The people you didn’t vote for. 
• The people who serve in our country’s government. 
• And the people who serve in China, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, North Korea, you name it. 
• For there is no government outside of God’s control and there are no individuals in authority who are outside of his sovereignty either. 
• Thus — Paul says — be subject to the governing authorities. Submit to them. Obey them. 

Which tells us that the starting point — for every follower of Jesus — when it comes to your relationship with those in authority — is one of obedience. Our default position should be obedience — not disobedience. For we’re to obey them — regardless if we voted for them or not — when what they ask or command us to do is not sinful. And that’s key: If what those in authority over us are asking or commanding us to do — is not sinful — we’re to obey.

And I know what some of you are thinking, “But what if — it’s not sinful — but I still disagree?” We’ll get to that in a moment, but for now — what I want you to see — from Paul’s words — which are God’s Word to us — is that our relationship with those in authority begins with our submission. Rebellion against God’s authority is what destroyed our relationship with him in the first place. Satan was first to rebel against God’s authority and he convinced Adam and Eve to rebel as well. And — for the rest of us — it didn’t take any convincing — we were born rebellious against God’s authority. And much of the tension we’ve felt while exploring the topic of authority and submission — is rooted in — not our distrust and rebellion against earthly authority — but is really rooted in our distrust and rebellion against God and his sovereignty over all who are in authority. Something true for Christians and non-Christians alike.

• Remember — Jesus said pay taxes to Caesar.
• Remember — that Paul wrote these words while a wicked man was emperor of Rome. 
• Remember Joseph — and how he submitted to Pharaoh and served as his second-in-command in Egypt. 
• Remember Nehemiah and Daniel — who served Babylonian kings. And Esther who was married to one.

We have biblical example after biblical example after biblical example — in addition to clear commands — of what our posture is to be towards those who are in authority over us: When they’re not asking us to sin — we’re to submit to their authority.

WHEN TO DISOBEY AUTHORITY

But now we turn to what you all have been waiting for. For there are times when we must disobey authority. One last reminder from Paul.

Romans 13:3–5 ESV

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

When those in authority — instead of promoting what is good — as defined by God — and punishing what is evil — also as defined by God — promote what God has said is evil and punish what God has said is good — then we must disobey. And because we live in an age that is defiant to authority — even godly and God-appointed authority — I want you to pay close attention to these biblical examples of disobedience to authority.

When Pharaoh ordered the murder of all male Jewish babies — some midwives refused to obey his command. This was before “thou shall not murder” was etched in stone — but it was still sin. Here’s what happened.

Exodus 1:15–17 NLT

15 Then Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave this order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah: 16 “When you help the Hebrew women as they give birth, watch as they deliver. If the baby is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.” 17 But because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king’s orders. They allowed the boys to live, too.

Why did they refuse the king’s order — what was the root of their disobedience? Their fear of God. A pastor from the 1600’s said, “The carnal person fears man, not God. The strong Christian fears God, not man. The weak Christian fears man too much and God too little.” When our disobedience to those in authority is required — it must be rooted in our fear of God.

This was true of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who — though threatened with death if they would not sin by worshiping the statue of King Nebuchadnezzar — said to the king…

Daniel 3:16–18 ESV

16 “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

The midwives disobeyed because they feared God and the consequences of murder which they knew — even without the Ten Commandments — was evil. Daniel’s three friends also feared God and refused to disobey his command “thou shall have no other gods before me.” But what I want you to notice is how they would rather die than sin by following the orders of the king. And they did not resist being thrown into the furnace. They did not resist the sword that Paul refers to in Romans — that may slaughter us. Rarely are we asked to commit sins such as murder or false worship today — and yet — our default position is not only to disobey authority — we also get upset when there are consequences for our unbiblical disobedience.

Continuing with biblical examples.

Daniel 6:10 ESV

10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Daniel’s opponents had convinced the king to sign a decree that no one could pray to anyone but him — and Daniel disobeyed the decree — even when he knew it would mean meeting some hungry lions up close and in person. When’s the last time the US government asked you to pray to a political figure?

Or take Esther who — when learning that her fellow Jews were in serious trouble because of a decree her husband had been tricked into signing — and knowing that the law of the land stated that if anyone approached the king without being invited — including her, his wife, the queen — they were subject to possibly being killed! She says…

Esther 4:11–16 ESV

11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.” 12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

Another case where the act of disobedience came with the potential of death. Not inconvenience — death! Not even jail time — but death! Oh how far we’ve fallen — not only in what we will disobey authority over — but also in how we think that our disobedience should come without consequences. Yet this is not what we find in the Bible. 

The biblical examples continue — there’s Peter and John. Who were arrested and threatened by those in authority for preaching about Jesus. The authorities told them to stop preaching about Jesus. What was their response to these threats?

Acts 4:19–20 ESV

19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

And — after being arrested and threatened again — because they were preaching about Jesus…

Acts 5:29 ESV

29 Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

And — before being released — the authorities had them beaten for their disobedience. Do you know how the apostles responded to their beating? They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Jesus. Why do so few Christians today find it a joy to be counted worthy of suffering for Jesus? Because we want our disobedience without the suffering, don’t we?

All of these examples are summarized by one of my Bible commentaries, which states…The Bible gives a very clear basis for civil disobedience; namely, if the state commands what God forbids, or if the state forbids what God commands, then civil disobedience is a Christian duty.

On the Conscience and Is Yours Biblical?

Which leads to one last aspect of submission and authority: What if what’s being asked isn’t sinful, but you still disagree with the decision of those in authority? This is the question of conscience. This is a question in which we must be biblical in our answer and not take our cues from the culture around us. For it’s far easier than we think to confuse our conscience with what God has said in his Word — and we’re far too trusting of our conscience — as if our conscience is the Holy Spirit or untainted by sin or something. Yet listen to what Paul says about this.

1 Corinthians 4:3–4 ESV

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

Paul says, “When others judge me — even in a court of law — that’s no big deal. I’m not aware of any reason for me to be judged — my conscience is clear. But” — and this is key — “just because my conscience is clear doesn’t mean I’m innocent. The Lord will judge me.” 

Did you know that your conscience being clear doesn’t mean that you’re innocent when it comes to God? That’s true for the Christian and non-Christian. Which is why we Christians must be biblical in our relationship to those in authority. For as one author writes…In an era when respect for authority is at low ebb, it is necessary to point out that Christians must be very careful to ensure that any act of civil disobedience is a matter of conscience inspired by divine principle, because there is an unfortunate tendency for Peter’s dictum — “We must obey God rather than men” — to be applied in a manner far removed from the original intent.

CONCLUSION

Some concluding thoughts based on what we’ve seen over the past three weeks.

First, remember that we — Christians — are people who follow a Savior who submitted himself to those in authority even when it cost him his life. And he’s called us to be people who — not only look to his cross for salvation — but carry our own — as we follow his example of submitting ourselves to those God has placed over us in authority.

Second, remember that God’s purpose in our submission to authority is to grow our trust of his sovereignty and — simultaneously — to grow us in humility. Did you know that God is more concerned about your trust in him than he is in your civil liberties? And that he’s more concerned about your humility because — when God says he opposes the proud — he means it. And submission to authority is a key way God destroys our pride.

Third, we must remember that Jesus never promised us a fair fight in this world. In fact — he warned us to not be surprised when those in authority use it against us. He even said, “If they treat me this way, how do you think they’re going to treat you?” Our submission to authority isn’t about us being treated fairly — it’s about us trusting our God.

Fourth, remember that being treated unfairly — being persecuted even — by those in authority is not what sends a person to Hell — and this is good news! Pride, unbelief, and being self-centered are reasons people spend eternity in Hell. If you have faith in Jesus there is nothing anyone can do — not Caesar, not Hitler, not Biden or Trump — there is not anything anyone can do to keep you from eternity with Jesus if you believe in him.

Finally, we must remember that — not only will our submission to authority show an unbelieving world how Christ has changed us — but our being respectful and honoring to all in authority will make our God look glorious to the world. For this is the kind of submission to authority that he’s called and commanded his people to display — for it reflects our submission to his authority over our lives, our marriages, our families, our churches, our city, state, nation — and yes — over the entire world. For our submission to authority is first and foremost about our submission to him — before it’s about our submission to them. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Sovereign God, what a challenging word — yet again — for us today. It seems as if everything in us wants to follow the path of Satan when it comes to submission — we want to rebel. Like Adam and Eve we so easily distrust you and your Word to us that we our default is to disobey you. We think we know better. We choose to go our own way: The way of the fool. The way of the wicked. The way of those who will be judged by you.

Spirit of God, if not for you calling us out of the darkness of our rebellion — none of us would submit ourselves to your authority. And — yet — you delight in opening the eyes of the spiritually blind, of giving ears that hear to those who are spiritually deaf, to give new — full of life — hearts to those who’ve been hard towards your love — hearts that find joy in submitting to your authority.

This is all possible because you — Jesus — fully submitted yourself to your Father’s authority. Including obeying ahead of time what Paul would later write in Romans — for you submitted yourself to the governing authorities of your day. Even when they used their power and position to murder you. Forgive us for believing that we’re able to benefit from your submission while not submitting ourselves to your Word on this issue. For your Word makes it clear: We’re to submit to authority. Yes — there are times where disobeying authority is biblically valid and necessary — but based on the examples we’ve seen — many aren’t submitting when we should and we rebel when we have no biblical grounds. Forgive us for not representing you well. And help us — empower us — remind us of your Word — so that we do represent you well from this day forward by obeying your Word and making you look glorious to the world. And we pray all of this in your name. Amen.

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)

May your submission to your sovereign God be displayed in your submission to the authorities he’s placed over you. Amen.

God loves you. I love you. You are sent.

Date: 09/16/2020

Questions

I had always heard and in personal reading saw that God is not mentioned in the book of Esther. Recently I read that Esther means “something hidden” and in fact God is mentioned at least 5 times in the book of Esther through acrostics in the Hebrew. Curious if you’ve ever heard this and do you agree with it?

1. Bible Project (goes pretty in depth in its videos) doesn’t mention the acrostics.
2. I found some commentaries that briefly mention the acrostics, but I don’t know if a big deal should be made about this. It feels a bit like the Bible Code books where you can find JFK and Hitler in the Bible if you take the first letter of every 37th word or something. 
3. The Hebrew word Esther, at least in the 10 Bible dictionaries I looked at, don’t have the word meaning “something hidden.” Other than the name, Esther, the word can mean “star.”

I have a question about a discrepancy in a story that is told in two different passages in the Bible. In both 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21 we read of God punishing Israel because David sinfully took a census of the tribes. Things get a little funky because in 2 Sam. it says God incited David to do this because he was already angry at the Israelites. However in 1 Chron. it says that Satan incited David to take the census. What do you make of this? Is it just two different narrators interpreting history differently or is there something else going on? And if 2 Sam. is the “right version”, why would God use a census as a reason to punish the Israelites?

1. Progressive revelation
   1. As the Bible moves chronologically, God’s people understand more of who He is, who we are, how things work, etc…
   2. This doesn’t mean that earlier authors were wrong. They just didn’t have as full of a view of things as later authors did.
   3. E.g. – The 12 disciples pre-Jesus’ crucifixion and the same disciples post his resurrection. Their revelation (understanding) had progressed after the resurrection on who Jesus is and what his death accomplished.
   4. 1/2 Chronicles were the last OT books written. Probably around 450-400 BC. 2 Samuel was written anywhere between 150-200 years earlier.
2. Given progressive revelation and that Chronicles was written hundreds of years after Samuel, most likely the author of Chronicles is showing us how the understanding of theology had progressed. That, similar to what we see in the book of Job, though God is ultimately in control of all things, God uses Satan in David’s life just like he did in Job’s life. Interestingly, just like in Job, Satan is mentioned briefly and then not mentioned again in this story from David’s life. 

In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestled with a man. Was the man God or an angel?  Jacob receives a blessing from him and afterward Jacob says “I have seen God face to face,” but if it was God why didn’t God overpower Jacob? And why does the man give Jacob a limp?

1. First off, Jacob was 97 years old when he did this wrestling match!
2. His life, up to this point, has been one of living up to his name (Jacob = liar and deceiver)
3. From one of my commentaries: The opponent is blandly identified as “a man”. There’s no explanation provided for the attack. The word “wrestled” (wayyēʾābēk) is a play on “Jabbok” (yabbōk). As a play also on Jacob’s name (yaʿăqōb), it is a prelude to the name change he receives by virtue of outdueling the “man.” The passage heightens the name “Jacob,” for it conveyed as much as anything the selfish character he exhibited until his transformation at the Jabbok…Physical strength characterized Jacob’s life: at birth grasping the heel of Esau (25:26), moving the stone to water Rachel’s sheep (29:10), and working Laban’s herds for twenty years in difficult conditions (31:38–40). Here he vigorously clinches the “man,” who in what appears to be desperation, injures the patriarch in a failed attempt to free himself. The irony is that Jacob’s physical weakness will recall the transformation of his moral strength. (NAC)
4. As his name becomes Israel — which means “struggles with God” or “God fights.” 
5. The point of the story. No longer look to your past — Jacob, you’re a liar and a cheat — but look to your future and your offsprings’ future. The Israelites were people who God both fought with and for.

Revelation chapter 20 describes the millennium of Christ’s rule. I’ve recently wondered what Gateway’s stance is on the description of the 1,000 year reign of Christ described in Chap 20. Do we as a church body support and preach a certain way around this topic (Premillennialism, Amillennialism, or Postmillennialism)?

1. Gateway and the EPC don’t have an official position or stance on the millennium. We believe this to be a non-essential matter.
2. I (Josh) personally hold to an Amillennial view (though historic premillennialism has a lot going for it).
3. I do have a resource doc on End Times that may be helpful. We’ll add a link to it.

Revelation 22:2 references the leaves of the ‘tree of life’ having healing properties for the people. Verse 22:2 has been highlighted in my bible for a long time and I’ve never been able to understand the purpose of the tree of life during the millennium. Do the nations of people live hundreds of years with the aid of the tree of life, but still die a natural death?

1. Revelation 22 isn’t the millenium; it’s eternity. 
2. So why would we need a tree that has healing properties if Revelation 22 is eternity — the New Heavens and New Earth? Does being without sin (“perfect”) mean we won’t ever trip and skin our knee? 
3. I’ve recommended this book before, but Heaven by Randy Alcorn gets into this some. Go check it out.

In reference to the 4th commandment, it seems that lately our weekends bustle less with the typical travel, events, business and other secular activities. In the Bible Jesus would spend his Sabbath in the Temple reading. Although it’s not always easy, we should strive to find rest, delighting ourselves in the finished work of the living Word of God, Jesus Christ. Can you help shed some light on how we can pursue this commandment deeper?

1. Ultimately, this commandment — like all others — find its fulfillment in Christ. He is the Lord of the Sabbath and he is our Sabbath rest. In fact, a catechism question asks, “What is faith in Jesus Christ?” The answer, “Receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.” 
2. Does resting in Christ lead us to a less busy lifestyle? Depends on what you’re busy doing. But for many of us (most of us?), we can probably do ourselves some good and slow down. We’re not making the world spin. For example, if you have kids, I guarantee they’d rather do something with mom and dad than do something for mom and dad (like a sport or hobby). 
3. Like Andrew Brunson said, “God has many servants, but few lovers.” I feel like our busyness leads us to be less lovers of God.

[referring to heaven…] I know we will get new bodies. But, what about our mind and heart once we are with the Lord for eternity? We are going through the sanctification process now, but will it somehow be completed when we make that transition into heaven? My concern is the present battle to keep my thinking right, and I wonder what it will be like in heaven. You talked about the tongue also and the Bible says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. In Jeremiah 17:9 it says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. I know at times my heart is not right.  Bottom line, what will my thinking and heart be like once I’m in heaven with the Lord.

1. We will be fully human when we’re resurrected. That would include our body, soul, mind, and spirit. So all of who we are — not just our physical bodies — will be purified and redeemed and part of who we are in eternity.

Pastor Josh, I’m sure a lot of people probably think you just work on Sundays. But the truth is we know your weeks vary – consisting of sermon prep, leadership meetings, counseling, events and correspondents. Compared to early 2020, how has your work as a pastor changed in the midst of the pandemic? Have certain focus areas consumed more of your time while others now actually take up less?

1. Shaun/Laura – what changes have you experienced and what have you seen different in what I’ve been doing this year compared to previous years?
2. Preaching/teaching
   1. I preached more during the first half of this year than I have in previous years. I think I preached 17 out of the first 19 weekends. I started to balance this out once we realized the pandemic wasn’t going away any time soon, but I’m still probably going to preach more this year than in previous years.
   2. We shifted to recording sermons on Wednesday, which threw off my sermon prep schedule. Then it became my new normal. Then we reopened and my sermon prep schedule changed again.
   3. When other Gateway folks preach, I spend quite a bit of time reviewing their sermon, giving them feedback, have them do a rehearsal of it, etc…It almost takes as much time for me when someone else is preaching than when I preach in preparation.
   4. I’ve participated in extra conversations and discussions in our community due to the racial tension. Both our conversation on race and a local community discussion on diversity.
   5. We restarted the podcast which added back into my schedule something else to prep for.
3. Leading
   1. This has been the biggest shift for me, the elders, and staff. 
   2. Our elder meetings have been the longest they’ve ever been since I’ve been at Gateway during the pandemic.
   3. Helping staff negotiate working at Gateway during all of this. Giving them priorities. Trying to check in and see how they’re doing (we’re humans too and are just as affected by all of the changes like everyone else is).
   4. You’ve got finances that we’ve been watching.
   5. Closing down the church. Reopening back up. Listening to all of the people who think their plan would’ve been better than ours. 
   6. There’s unfortunately been an increased sense of competition between churches. “Who’s going to be the first to reopen because folks are going to flock there. Will you require masks — like the governor has mandated — or not.” Because folks are choosing to worship based on whether masks are required or not instead of things that should be more important to them (like the theology of the church). I told the elders that the first church to restart kid’s ministry was going to have a huge advantage because folks are going to flock there. It’s felt like a grand conclusion to the experiment known as consumeristic Christianity that we’ve had in the US for a few decades. We used to choose which church we’d attend based on the music, or youth ministry, or kid’s programming. For the past few months, it’s been masks or no masks, social distancing, getting to sit where you want, etc…which is all pretty sad to me quite honestly. 
4. Shepherding
   1. I’ve had more lengthy (hour or longer) phone calls with folks either because of concerns they have, comments they’ve made on social media, etc…This whole shut down and pandemic has caused all of us to be mentally exhausted and so there’ve been more unfiltered criticisms by folks. And I’ve found that giving the person a phone call, even though it will take up some time, the calls usually help to bring some sort of understanding.
   2. We still have marriages with significant struggles, people with illnesses, families with births and deaths, and I try to follow up with many of these folks. Again, since we’ve been more isolated, a quick call or text can go a long way (especially when I’m not seeing everyone on the weekend which is when I used to do a lot of follow up).
   3. For example, I was out of the house before 7am yesterday to check in on one of our senior saints whose health is deteriorating and the family had asked if I could stop by as they weren’t sure how much longer their relative had to live. 
   4. I’m meeting with a young man who lives in our community later this afternoon, who is gay and has heard that Gateway hates gay people. That’s what I guess his gay friends have told him. So I’m having more conversations around these kinds of topics as people are much more open to spiritual conversations than they were pre-pandemic.

Date: 3/10/2024

Questions

• Ezra: The people of God were exiled because of their unfaithfulness to the God (failing to uphold their end of the covenant, disobeying his commands, etc) – in other words – they faced consequences for their disobedience to God. When bad things happen in our lives, how do we know if something is a consequence directly related to our sin/unfaithfulness, or, if it’s just the result of living in a fallen world?

• Nehemiah: Nehemiah hurt for his people who were struggling and asked to leave a comfortable job as the king’s cupbearer to return to Judah to help rebuild the city. In what ways can we (as the people of God or individually) set aside our comfort and pursue opportunities to help the people of God who are hurting?

• Esther: One of the major themes in all 3 of these books is God’s providence. 

• How do we make sense of God’s providence over the person who has “experienced the good things of Heaven,” “tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the power of the age to come,” etc – and falls away (see Hebrews 6) – What does is mean that it is impossible to bring that person back to repentance?

SCRIPTURE: Esther 4:1-17 (ESV)

‌DATE: 3-10-24

As always it’s a joy to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And there’s one thing I want you to know — and this is true if you’re worshiping with us for the first time or are joining us at our North Main Campus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.

SERIES INTRO

We’re finishing our Finding Jesus series this weekend. When I first became the senior pastor — here at Gateway — I had the goal of preaching a sermon on each book in the Old Testament. And — today — the goal will be complete. I had this goal because it’s fairly common for the Old Testament to be a challenging part of the Bible for people to understand. 

So I thought doing a series like this — where I introduce you to a book of the Bible that you may or may not be familiar with — give an overview of the book — look at a particular section of it — and then — show you how to find Jesus — could be a resource used for years to come.

So — if you’re ever reading a book in the Old Testament and want a quick overview — be sure to go to our website — gatewayepc.org — and search for our Finding Jesus series.

Now — I just mentioned how one of my goals has been to show you how to find Jesus in the Old Testament. Why is this one of my goals? Because we believe that the Bible is telling one story — the story of Jesus. And here’s why we believe this.

Near the end of Luke’s gospel — after Jesus was killed on the cross — he appears to two men who thought he was still dead. Somehow Jesus hid who he was from them — so they have no idea who they’re talking to. 

And Jesus gives them — and us — a lesson on how we’re to read and understand the whole Bible.

Luke 24:17–27 (ESV)

¹⁷ And he (that’s Jesus) said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. ¹⁸ Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” ¹⁹ And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, ²⁰ and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. ²¹ But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. ²² Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, ²³ and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” ²⁵ And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” ²⁷ And (these next words are key — this is how we know the whole Bible tells one story — watch what Jesus does. And…) beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

All the Scriptures — both Old and New Testaments — are about Jesus.

Today we’re finishing the group of books referred to as the history section of the Old Testament. These books cover historical events in the life of God’s people. And — today — we’ll be looking at the book of Esther. So — if you have your Bible — please turn with me to Esther chapter four.

BACKGROUND OF ESTHER

While you’re finding Esther chapter four — let’s take some time to get our bearings in the book — and I hope you’ll see that Esther is a book you’ll want to go read for yourself.

But — first — one last time of remembering where we are in the history of God’s people. The books of history pick up where the books of Moses end. The people have been rescued out of Egypt — and have been led by Moses to the edge of the Promised Land. They send spies into the land to scope out their new home — only to be given a report that causes the Israelites to distrust God’s promise to them. So they wander in the wilderness for forty years until an entire generation dies. 

Moses — along with Joshua and Caleb — two spies who did trust God’s promise — arrive with the next generation of Israelites at the edge of the Promised Land. However, Moses’ time on earth had come to an end — this is when God appoints Joshua as the leader of the people.

Under his leadership — the Israelites conquer the Promised Land. And — after Joshua — there’s a brief period when the people faithfully follow God. But — in the book of Judges — we read about the people turning their backs on God again and again and again. Yet — in a demonstration of his love and faithfulness to his people — God raises up judges who act as saviors for the people — the judges deliver the people from the consequences of their rebellion as they turn the people back to God.

During the time of the judges — we meet Ruth. Hers is a love story of an outsider welcomed into God’s family. And her book ends by telling us that — the son born to her — will have a descendant who will be king of God’s people.

In the book of Judges there’s a repeated phrase — “in those days there was no king in Israel” — hinting that the nation will one day have a king. And the books of Samuel record the nation’s transition between the judges to having a king. Samuel is a prophet called by God to anoint Israel’s first king — his name is Saul. 

Things don’t go well for Saul — he’s a proud man who refuses to repent of his rebellion and sin — so God removes his anointing from Saul and tells Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to anoint Israel’s next king — his name is David. And the remainder of the books of Samuel record the lives of these first two kings of Israel.

The book of First Kings begins by covering the end of David’s life and then records the history of David’s son — Solomon’s reign as king of Israel. Solomon is the last king to reign over a unified nation because — his son Rehoboam — will make a foolish decision which results in a national split. The nation of Judah is formed with Jerusalem as its capital and has the descendants of David as its king — whereas the nation of Israel goes its separate way — with Samaria as its capital.

You’ll read of king after king, and conspiracy after conspiracy, and betrayal after betrayal in the northern kingdom of Israel. The nation never recovers — leading to its eventual defeat by the Assyrians.

Why was Israel destroyed? Israel was destroyed because of its 1) idolatry, 2) its injustice, and 3) its covenant unfaithfulness. The kings and the people would not listen to the prophets God had sent to them. 

And — now — our attention is on the nation of Judah — the southern kingdom — and its eventual defeat. Judah has some good kings — and it has some horrific kings. Prophets of God call the kings of Judah to repent. And — though there are a few good kings — the evil kings eventually lead the nation so far from God that it too is conquered. 

And the books of the kings end with the people of God being led to live in exile in Babylon. And this leads us — the readers — to wonder if this is it for God’s people. Is God finally done with them?

The book of Esther picks up about a hundred years after the Babylonian exile. Babylon has since been conquered by Persia and — at this point in history — some of the Jews have returned to Jerusalem — while others remained living in the land of their exile. The book of Esther focuses on some individuals living in the capital of Persia — the city of Susa.

There’s Esther — who the book is named after. Mordecai — Esther’s uncle — they’re both Jewish — by the way. There’s the king of Persia. And — finally — there’s the Persian official named Haman.

Finally, there’s an interesting fact about the book: God isn’t mentioned — not even once — in the entire book. Which makes us wonder what the author’s trying to accomplish in recording Esther’s story without mentioning God? We’ll get to that later — because that’s how we’re going to find Jesus.

OVERVIEW OF ESTHER

So that’s the background of Esther — now — let’s turn to the book’s content. 

The book begins with the king of Persia throwing an elaborate party that lasts about half a year. For some of us — the office Christmas party lasts too long — if that’s you — be glad you don’t work for the king of Persia. But the king has thrown this six month long party to show off how great he is. Kings tend to have egos — in fact, there’s only one King I can think of who was truly humble. And on the last day of his party — after having way too much to drink — the king demands that his wife make an appearance and show off her beauty to all of his guests. 

And she refuses.

Do you know what’s worse than an earthly king with lots of power? A drunk earthly king with lots of power! 

Since his wife refused to show off her beauty to his guests — he gets rid of her. And — to find his next queen — he puts together a plan that the TV show the Bachelor stole its whole premise from. Just kidding — sort of.

But this is when Esther and Mordecai enter the story. 

Esther is one of the women up for receiving the king’s final rose. And Esther — this young woman — who’s been hiding the fact that she’s a Jew the entire time — gets the rose. And she becomes queen. 

Shortly after Esther’s been named queen — her uncle Mordecai overhears some men plotting to kill the king. He lets Esther know of the plot — she tells the king — and the plan is stopped. This will be important in a moment.

Next we meet Haman. He’s a power hungry individual who’s full of himself. He’s also an official of the king. One day he starts demanding that all people kneel when in his presence — the guy’s got an ego problem. 

Well — Mordecai refuses to kneel. Which makes Haman mad. 

And — in a great imitation of a spoiled child — Haman gets the king to write an official decree declaring the death of all Jewish people. Haman had found out that Mordecai was Jew — and what better way to get back at the guy who won’t bow down to your ego than to have his entire people murdered. 

A dice is thrown to pick the date when the Jews will all be killed. And the date is set for eleven months later.

What comes next is the passage we’re going to look at more closely — but here’s what happens in the rest of the book. 

Esther throws a banquet for the king and Haman. They both have a lot to drink — but before they leave — she invites them back to another banquet set for the next day. Drunk Haman leaves the banquet both pleased and proud. But — as he heads home — he sees Mordecai and his egotistical rage rises to the surface again. He has a giant pole — a sharp stake — constructed. His plan is to impale Mordecai on it the next day.

Interestingly — that night the king can’t sleep. He has a servant read to him to try and bring the sleepy time zzz’s on. And the servant just so happens to read the historical record of that plot to kill the king that Mordecai had warned Esther about. And the king asks, “What reward did Mordecai get for saving my life?” And the servant said, “Nothing. No reward was given to Mordecai.”

The sun rises. Morning has come. And Haman goes to the king to request permission to kill Mordecai. But the king asks him a question first.

Esther 6:6b–10 (NLT)

⁶ “What should I do to honor a man who truly pleases me?” Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?” (Ego!) ⁷ So he replied, “If the king wishes to honor someone, ⁸ he should bring out one of the king’s own royal robes, as well as a horse that the king himself has ridden — one with a royal emblem on its head. ⁹ Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. 

And let him see that the man whom the king wishes to honor is dressed in the king’s robes and led through the city square on the king’s horse. Have the official shout as they go, ‘This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!’” ¹⁰ “Excellent!” the king said to Haman. “Quick! Take the robes and my horse, and do just as you have said for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the gate of the palace. Leave out nothing you have suggested!”

And Haman — though full of ego — knows his place. And he does what he’s told. 

He puts a royal robe on Mordecai. He has him ride on one of the king’s horses. Haman leads Mordecai throughout the city shouting, “This is what the king does for someone he wishes to honor!” And — when it’s all over — Haman is humiliated. And…

Esther 6:13–14 (NLT)

¹³ When Haman told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends what had happened, his wise advisers and his wife said, “Since Mordecai — this man who has humiliated you — is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him.” ¹⁴ While they were still talking, the king’s eunuchs arrived and quickly took Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared.

During this second banquet — Esther reveals to the king that she’s Jewish and that Haman has tricked the king into writing a decree that will have her, her uncle — who saved the king’s life — and her people — all killed. 

Now the king’s been drinking — again — and he gets really angry. He storms out of the room — and while he’s outside gathering his thoughts — Haman starts pleading with Esther for his life. And — when the king returns — he thinks that Haman is assaulting his wife! So he orders Haman to be impaled on the pole that he had built for Mordecai’s murder.

Now — Haman’s death doesn’t end the decree ordering the death of all Jews. So Esther and Mordecai get to work because — in the traditions of the land — the king can’t revoke a decree he’s already made. But a king can make a counter-decree. 

So a new decree is sent throughout the land giving Jews the right to defend themselves and to destroy their enemies. 

The Jews celebrate. They defend themselves. They destroy their enemies. And Mordecai is made second in command in Persia — only the king had a higher position of authority than Mordecai. 

THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD

And — now — we turn to the passage we’re going to look at more closely. We’re in Esther chapter four — beginning in verse one. And this is right after the king’s first decree — the one ordering the death of all Jews — had just been sent out.

Esther 4:1–17 (NLT)

¹ When Mordecai learned about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on burlap and ashes, and went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail. ² He went as far as the gate of the palace, for no one was allowed to enter the palace gate while wearing clothes of mourning. ³ And as news of the king’s decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes. ⁴ When Queen Esther’s maids and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, she was deeply distressed. She sent clothing to him to replace the burlap, but he refused it. ⁵ Then Esther sent for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs who had been appointed as her attendant. She ordered him to go to Mordecai and find out what was troubling him and why he was in mourning. ⁶ So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the square in front of the palace gate. ⁷ Mordecai told him the whole story, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. ⁸ Mordecai gave Hathach a copy of the decree issued in Susa that called for the death of all Jews. He asked Hathach to show it to Esther and explain the situation to her. He also asked Hathach to direct her to go to the king to beg for mercy and plead for her people. ⁹ So Hathach returned to Esther with Mordecai’s message. ¹⁰ Then Esther told Hathach to go back and relay this message to Mordecai: ¹¹ “All the king’s officials and even the people in the provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty days.” ¹² So Hathach gave Esther’s message to Mordecai. ¹³ Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. ¹⁴ If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” ¹⁵ Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” ¹⁷ So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

“Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” What a powerful question. A statement of purpose — of possibility. A question acknowledging there are unknowns — “who knows if…” — while acknowledging hope and confidence in God — “If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place…”

In our overview of the book — did you notice all of the times that seem too improbable to be coincidental? 

Of all the women up to receive the king’s final rose — Esther is chosen. 

Mordecai just so happens to overhear a plot to murder the king. 

The king just so happens to forget to reward Mordecai for saving his life. 

The roll of the dice to mark the date when all Jews will be killed just so happens to be months away. 

The king can’t sleep and just so happens to hear the story of Mordecai saving his life and is told that he failed to reward him for the good deed. 

This all just so happens to take place hours before Haman hopes to have Mordecai killed. 

And Haman just so happens to have to honor Mordecai instead of having him murdered. 

And Haman just so happens to be killed on the pole that he had built for Mordecai’s death. 

It just so happens, and happens, and happens, and happens — too many coincidences to be coincidental. Even down to “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” 

Oh — we know Mordecai — we know. Esther was made queen for a time just like that.

FINDING JESUS

If you don’t know — we have a church podcast. We answer your questions, discuss sermons, hear stories of folks who are part of this faith family, and so on. One of the topics we’ve been discussing is the Westminster Confession of Faith — which is a theological document that’s part of our church constitution. Next week, we’ll be discussing the confession’s chapter that covers the providence of God. 

What is God’s providence? I won’t read everything the confession has to say about God’s providence, but here are some highlights.

God, who created everything, also upholds everything. He directs, regulates, and governs every creature, action, and thing, from the greatest to the least, by his completely wise and holy providence. 

He does so in accordance with his infallible foreknowledge and the voluntary, unchangeable purpose of his own will, all to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy. – WCF 5.1

What we first learn about God’s providence is that all things — not only exist — but continue to exist — because God is actively involved in his creation. He’s not apathetic to what’s happening. He’s not aloof. He didn’t create everything and then abandon us to our own destruction. He’s passionately involved in his creation — even in Esther’s story — where he’s not even mentioned. As the author of Hebrews reminds us…

Hebrews 1:3a (NLT)

³ The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.

And there’s comfort — peace, really — in knowing that things aren’t left up to chance — or the roll of the dice — but are under the loving, kind, and gracious power of he who gave his life — in love — for us — and who is sustaining all things.

In the book of Esther we see how God “directs, regulates, and governs every creature, action, and thing…by his completely wise and holy providence” which is what the confession teaches us. The confession continues to explain God’s providence by stating…

God is the first cause, and in relationship to him everything happens unchangeably and infallibly. However, by this same providence, he orders things to happen from secondary causes. – WCF 5.2

We see this throughout the Bible. For example…

Psalm 33:10–11 (NLT)

¹⁰ The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. ¹¹ But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.

Or as Paul writes…

Ephesians 1:9–11 (NLT)

⁹ God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ — which is to fulfill his own good plan. ¹⁰ And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ — everything in heaven and on earth. ¹¹ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

God is the first cause of all things. Meaning his will is ultimately behind all that’s happening in his creation. 

And his will — his plan — will be accomplished. For he has the power to frustrate the plans and schemes of the nations and individuals — just like he frustrated Haman’s many plans. 

But God’s plan stands firm. What God intends to happen will happen. 

Part of God’s plan is what Paul calls the mystery of the gospel. That — at the right time — Christ would come to save those whom God has chosen to be part of his people. And nothing — not even the death of Jesus — could stop God’s plan from being accomplished.

Jesus’ opponents — in their hatred for him — had him murdered on a cross — another pole made for death. And they thought they were doing God’s will by getting rid of a blasphemer. And — though they were mistaken about many things — who Jesus was, that their hatred towards him was ungodly, that Jesus was not blaspheming but telling the truth — though they were mistaken about many things — they were not mistaken in believing that they were accomplishing God’s will. 

They were just mistaken in what God’s plan was. For God’s eternal plan was that Jesus would die as the promised Savior at the hands of angry sinners.

The confession goes on to say…

Just as the providence of God in general extends to every creature, so, in a very special way it takes care of his church and orders all things for its good. – WCF 5.7

An example of this is found in the book of Romans.

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Dear Christian, the hope for us is that God so cares for his people that he orders all things to happen for our ultimate good. 

“Do you mean that God is going to use this cancer for my good?” Yes. 

“That he’ll use this betrayal by someone I thought was a friend for my good?” Yes. 

“That God’s going to use this — whatever goes in your blank — parenting situation, work conflict, another contentious presidential election — for my good?” The answer is yes. 

This is what God has promised to his people. And God always fulfills his promises.

If this is hard for you to comprehend — know that you’re in good company. As I recently read, “There are lots of things about this world that I don’t fully understand, so it’s not hard for me to imagine that there are going to be an infinite number of things that can fit into God’s infinite mind that just don’t fit into mine.” (Greg Gilbert, Who is Jesus?, 65)

My puny, limited mind can’t comprehend how God is causing everything in this broken, rebellious, often crushing world to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. I wish I could comprehend it — it would make being a pastor so much easier — I’d have so many more answers for you. 

But I don’t have all the answers. But I do have one answer that I’m confident in: God is faithful — and he always keeps his promises to his people. Including his promise that he is providentially working behind the scenes in your life — just like he was working behind the scenes in Esther and Mordecai’s life. And — if you believe in Jesus — he is causing everything to work together for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you that nothing is left to chance. We may roll the dice — but you determine how they fall. We make plans — plans which often fail — but your plan never fails. What assurance there is in knowing that the One whose plan never fails has determined to love and rescue his people.

‌Spirit of God, give our hearts assurance that our trust in Christ for our hope and salvation is real and genuine. Not so we trust in ourselves — but so we trust you more. Especially when life is hard and — like Mordecai — it feels like everything in the world is against us. Remind us — in these difficult moments — by grabbing our attention with the truths we’ve seen today: The nations may plan — people may scheme — but it is the Lord’s plan which will never fail.

And — Jesus — the plan determined in eternity past was that you would die for the sins of your people. Your opponents thought they were succeeding as they put you on trial, trumped up the charges, and had you killed. But this was all your plan. For it was your choice to come to earth to die for our sins. It was your plan and nothing and no one — not the religious leaders, not your earthly enemies, not even Satan himself — could disrupt your plan to rescue those whom you love.

Therefore — if you believe in Jesus — receive these words of promise: Nothing can separate you from God’s love. Nothing. 

Sometimes we give our doubt, or our disobedience, or our depression, or the darkness that we face way too much credit and power. Nothing can stop Jesus’ plan of rescue and love for you.

And — if you don’t believe in Jesus — but desire to be loved in this way — all you need to do is say, “Jesus, I want to be loved by you. I want to know that I’ve been called according to your purpose. Rescue me — save me.” That’s all that’s required. It really is that simple. Father, Son, and Spirit — thank you for making it simple to receive your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

BENEDICTION

May you go trusting in God’s providence — that he is causing everything to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Amen.

God loves you. I love you. You are sent.