The God in Our Favor

In case you were sleeping through the entire 2010s, one of the biggest film franchises was The Hunger Games, based on the novel with the same name. The dystopian story depicts a government that forces a young man and woman from each district to compete in a televised competition, where the last living contestant not only wins riches but also food for their district. The theme of the series is encapsulated by the line, “May the odds be ever in your favor”. The odds were in favor of the teenage heroine, Katniss Everdeen, as she took her younger sister's place in the competition and ultimately won. Although she was gifted with fame and security, throughout the series, Katniss sacrifices her spot to help her people. While Suzanne Collins' authorial intent was not to imitate the book of Esther, all great stories often have similar parallels, especially when they point to the greatest story.

Placed in a Palace

Like Katniss, Esther also won a government-designed competition. She won a beauty pageant, but instead of a sash and tiara, Esther was awarded the title of queen. Coincidentally, there was also a lottery to choose people to die. Esther’s cousin/guardian, Mordecai, learned of one of the king’s officials' plans to have a lot that would randomly choose when to kill the Jewish people. Esther could have chosen to maintain her own security, but instead, she made a sacrifice for her people, motivated by Mordecai’s advice in the most famous verse: 

“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?” (Esther 4:14 ESV)

The odds did not just happen to be in Esther’s favor; they were orchestrated by God. In God’s great plan, she used her position to convince the king to reverse the decree. Likewise, in God’s great plan, Jesus left his “palace” to save His people (Phil. 2:6-8). The decree of death that was rightfully placed on us was reversed by our great King (Rom. 6:23, Gal. 3:13).

No God?

The book of Esther makes no mention of God, but God’s sovereignty is evident throughout the entire story. This was done stylistically to emphasize how the Jewish people were living in a godless place as an exiled people. It serves as a reminder that we, too, are living as exiles until we reach the finish line. Although it may not seem like it, God is always with us. He has placed our neighbors, friends, family, and coworkers in our lives for a specific reason. Since Christ lives in us, we can be like Katniss and Esther, living out the greatest love by setting aside our pride and laying down our lives for our friends (John 15:13).

These articles supplement our church wide reading plan. To read the bible with us click here.