"The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will" (Proverbs 21:1).

The providence of God has several definitions, but basically means His shaping of ordinary events to accomplish His eternal purposes while providing blessing for His people. See how He directs all of these seemingly normal events in the book of Esther:

• A king's banquet   1:1-9
• A queen's refusal   1:10-12
• A foolish man's decree   1:13-22
• A beauty contest   2:1-18
• An overheard plot   2:19-23
• A sudden rise to power   3:1-6
• A year's delay   3:7-15
• A favorable king   4:1-5:8
• A wounded pride   5:9-14
• A sleepless night   6:1
• A forgotten reward   6:2-3
• An early rise   6:4-5
• A dishonoring honor   6:6-14
• A careless act   7:1-10