God is

I. The silent work of sovereignty explored

• A. The example of Joseph – Genesis 37-50
  
  1. We are introduced to Joseph at age 17 in Genesis 37
  2. God is silent (He does not speak directly) during this story, but it is clear that He is at work
• B. The example of Moses & Israel
  
  1. Joseph is forgotten and the favor of the Egyptians on Israel disappears Exodus 1:8-11
  2. Israelites become abused slaves and cry out to God for deliverance Exodus 1:13-22
  3. God raises a deliver, but he will be 80 years old before he comes to deliver them Acts 7:30
  4. God was virtually silent but working throughout
• C. The example of the Exile (Babylon captivity) – this is the backdrop for Esther
  
  1. Warning - Deuteronomy 28:15-68
  2. Cycles of rebellion – Judges
  3. Prediction of Captivity – Jeremiah 25:3-8, 12
  4. Jeremiah tells the people to settle in, they are going to be there a while – Jeremiah 29:1-10
  5. Daniel (one of the Exiles) reads Jeremiah and realizes the need for repentance – Daniel 9:1-3, 15-19
  6. Again, God is virtually silent, but clearly at work using the natural events of humanity

God works in the

II. The mess of humanity explored

• A. Pre-exile Israel
  
  1. Clear evidence that they forget God and walk away from Him continuously
  2. It took extreme measures to get them to come to their senses – oppression
  3. The cycle of prosperity in the Land, forgetting God, oppression, and repentance is the norm
• B. Post-exile Israel
  
  1. Three stages for the promised return are the focus of Nehemiah and Ezra
  2. Nehemiah emphasizes the building of the wall
  3. Ezra emphasizes the building of the Temple
  4. The exile produced a fixation upon the land; a focus that we still see today
  5. However, a similar cycle of prospering, forgetting, and turning away from God once again is established
  6. One major difference between the pre-and post-exile is a readiness to repent, but still the struggle to be faithful rages on; eventually leading to 400 years of silence, but God is still working
• C. Our culture
  
  1. Clearly there has been a major shift away from God
  2. The Church has also struggled, with many denominations no longer holding to the Fundamentals of the Faith
  3. Many within the Church are struggling to live out the truth of the Gospel in daily life
  4. God is still working His plan!

Humanity’s

III. The beauty of God’s plans and purposes

• A. Esther shows how God sovereignly saved His people from annihilation
• B. Through His people the Messiah/Savior comes
• C. The Messiah’s sacrifice solves the mess of humanity

As tragic as humanity’s track record with their relationship with God might be, it is comforting to know that God is

Small Group Questions

1. What did God teach you through this passage and message? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.

2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?

3. Share with each other when you experienced God’s silence.

4. What are some takeaways from the three examples of the silent work of God (Joseph, Moses, Exile) to encourage us in these times of silence?

5. Even if no one in your group is experiencing God’s silence at this time, we have people within our church body who are. Please spend some time praying for their strengthening and encouragement.