In this book, Pastor Tony Evans explains the doctrines of God’s sovereignty and God’s providence through a study of the book of Esther. Some Christians dislike this book because God is never mentioned. Martin Luther went so far as to say::
“I am so great an enemy to the second book of the Maccabees, and to Esther, that I wish they had not come to us at all…”
However, I choose to believe that if God allowed Esther to be included, there is a reason it will edify us. Tony Evans says that although God is not mentioned in this book, his “fingerprints” are all over it. God is constantly at work behind the scenes, bringing His plan to fruition in His timing. Maybe it’s meant to appeal to those of us who have a more intuitive nature.
Some of my take-aways were:
- God is always in control and His plans cannot be thwarted
- God blesses you so that you may become a blessing to others
- Faith is risky
- You will encounter spiritual roadblocks and trials
- It is our responsibility to live with the right perspective, and align ourselves with God’s plans, waiting for His timing and direction
How do we accomplish #5?
“Study the word of God to obey it, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.”
Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it to be an easy read. There were a few statements I found slightly questionable as a Lutheran (Evans is a Baptist), but I was generally in agreement with his reading of Esther. I learned a few things about the book (such as exactly where it falls in the biblical timeline). At the end there is an appendix listing scripture verses on the topic of sovereignty, and also information on Evans’ ministry, The Urban Alternative. He did rely on many sports analogies which may be appealing to men (forgive me if this is an incredibly sexist statement).
Verdict: 4 stars. And ladies, if you are looking for a biblical role model, Esther would make an excellent choice!
If you would like to order this book or for more information, follow the link below:
https://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/products/pathways-2/
Lutheran Ladies Connection 