You might be interested to know that the name of God is not mentioned one time in the Book of Esther, and yet His providential care is evident throughout. And, that same providential care is true for each one of us. Even though we may not always turn our eyes and hearts heavenward to acknowledge God’s presence and protection, we can rest assured that He is watching over us, guiding us, and sustaining us.

During Israel’s exile in Babylon, and then later in Persia, Haman’s plot brings the Jews to the brink of extinction. Years before, Esther (a Jewess) was providentially chosen by the King to be his Queen, and when Haman’s plot was uncovered by Esther’s wise cousin Mordecai, Esther went to the King, and at great danger to herself, told him about the plot to kill all of her people. In the end, Haman is hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai, and the Jews are saved. The Jewish Feast of Purim is an annual reminder of God’s faithfulness on behalf of His people.

Although the author of the book is not revealed, it seems likely that the author was a younger Jewish contemporary of Mordecai, one who was born and raised in Persia because of his knowledge of both Jewish and Persian customs. The Persian king during Esther’s reign was Khshayarsh, whose Hebrew name was Ahasuerus, and his Greek name was Xerxes. His reign extended from 486-464 B.C. The time of writing was after the reign of Khshayarsh, and most historians place the date between 464 and 435 B.C.

Christ is exemplified in this Old Testament book in that Esther inserted herself in the face of death in order to rescue her people, just as Jesus did almost 500 years later to rescue us from the penalty and power of sin. The overall theme of the Book is God’s providential care over His people in the face of annihilation. Although God disciplined His people by sending them into exile, He never abandoned them. At the same time, Esther’s willingness and courage to save her people is a great example for each of us. Undoubtedly, the most well-known section in the Book, spoken first by Mordecai to Esther, and then Esther to Mordecai follows,

Mordecai to Esther: “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

Esther to Mordecai: “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens will also fast in the same way. And thus, I will go in to the king, which is not permitted according to the law; and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

The Result of Esther’s courage: “And in each and every province, and in each and every city, wherever the King’s commandment and his decree arrived, there was gladness and joy for the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many among the peoples of the land became Jews, for the dread of the Jews had fallen on them (Esther 8:17).

In addition to God’s providence, the story of Esther is the story of commitment and courage in the face of possible death, and in this case, requesting an audience before the King without receiving a formal invitation. She simply knew what she had to do in order to save her people, and then trusted God as she stood before the king. And God honored her commitment to her people and her courage, and gained the ear of the king who responded by condemning the right person (Haman) to his own gallows that he had constructed for Mordecai.

For those of you who are followers of Jesus, we often remain silent when we should speak. Esther trusted God for the outcome, and God blessed her commitment to Him and to her people, and then acted with courage to gain an audience before the king. And God saw her commitment and courage, and honored it by removing the potential annihilation from the Jewish people in Persia. And God will do some amazing things in our own lives when we face difficult situations with commitment and courage, as we trust God for His providential care. Let’s all learn this amazing lesson from Queen Esther. May God bless each of you as you take those steps of courage.