God's Hidden Providence
Esther 9:26 The feast of Purim commemorates this deliverance of the death decree of Haman, turning a tool of genocide into a perpetual celebration of God’s providence, of which Christians have a part in today.
8/7/20261 min read
So, they called these days Purim, after the name Pur. Therefore, because of all the words of this letter, what they had seen concerning this matter, and what had happened to them… Esther 9:26 (NKJV)
Pur is the Persian word for casting lots, which Haman did to determine the day the Jews were to be annihilated, but due to God's providence, the Jews were able to defend themselves. On the fourteenth and fifteenth day of the month of Adar, the Jews killed over seventy-five thousand enemies who sought to eliminate them, preserving the Jewish people, and by extension, the Messianic line, setting the stage for the Gospel. By a decree from Mordecai, the Jews were to have the Feast of Purim on those two days every year to celebrate the reversal of their fate by God's deliverance.
Purim is not just a historical event; it is a call to remember God’s faithfulness in our own lives, to honor God’s work in history, to rejoice in His deliverance, and to live in light of His ultimate victory through Jesus Christ. Just as in the case of the Jews, God can turn what is intended for evil into a celebration of His power and mercy, reminding Christians that God is still at work—turning threats into triumphs, hidden plans into victories, encouraging courage, generosity, and a joyful remembrance of God’s faithfulness, even when His name is not spoken.
Choose to look for what God had done in your life and in those around you, celebrating the deliverance you received when Jesus went to the cross, integrating gratitude with acts of mercy, and trusting God’s providence even in seemingly random or hostile circumstances. Use gatherings to focus on God’s goodness rather than worldly entertainment, support local believers, missions, or persecuted churches, and wear the “robes of righteousness” as a reminder of your new life in Christ. Reflect on personal moments when God rescued you from danger, sin, or despair, keeping a “Reversals Journal” to record answered prayers and unexpected rescues, reinforcing God’s faithfulness. When you choose to look at the good God has done in your life and that of others, you see His hidden providence.