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Read: Esther 4:14
Listen: Esther 4

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

This year, we explore how God’s plan in the Old Testament always included Jesus saving us from our sins. This month, we look at Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah to see how these books point to Jesus as our deliverer, restorer and rebuilder.

Esther, set in Persia, shows God’s providential care for his people, even when he seems hidden. Esther’s willingness to risk her life for her people foreshadows Christ’s sacrifice for us as our ultimate deliverer who came at the perfect time. Ezra, chronicling the return from exile, focuses on spiritual restoration and the importance of God’s Word. Ezra’s dedication to teaching God’s law anticipates Jesus, who perfectly fulfilled the law, taught with authority and is the living Word. Nehemiah emphasizes the physical rebuilding of Jerusalem, pointing to Jesus, who builds his church and will one day establish the new Jerusalem. Nehemiah’s grief for Jerusalem’s ruined condition reflects Jesus’s broken heart for his people and what sin does to us. Jesus is the ultimate restorer and rebuilder.

These books remind us that God is always at work, even when he seems silent or distant. They point to Jesus, who came at the right time to save us, restore our relationship with God, and build his church. Through Christ, we find our true identity, are restored to a right relationship with God, and are part of the church he is building (1 Peter 2:4-5).

TODAY: As you read this month, ask God to reveal how these books point to Jesus. Thank him for Jesus, our deliverer who came at the perfect time, the living Word of God, our restorer who reconciles us to God.

JESUS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT:

Read Esther 1-2. Highlight anything that points to Jesus. Note God’s providential work behind the scenes. Consider how Jesus works in our lives, even when we don’t see it (Colossians 1:15-17).