Sometime between 486 and 465 BC a young Jewish woman named Esther, or “Hadassah”, her Hebrew name, took her life in her hands and stood silently waiting to see if her husband, King Xerxes of Persia, would acknowledge her, thereby saving her life, or if he would ignore her and so condemn her to death. (Esther 5:1)

The story of Esther that appears in the Bible is the story of a young woman savior, who finds herself in circumstances not at all of her own making, as a pawn in the life of King Xerxes and the Persian court. In spite of having no independence at all, having been chosen from a large number of girls by the king, Esther emerged as the savior of the nation of her people who were living in exile from Israel in Persia.

While it’s hard for us to imagine a life dictated by others, leaving little or no room for freedom of action or even of speech, this was the life of the queen of Persia, young Esther. When she first learned of the decree that had gone out to destroy the entire Jewish population, Esther thought that there was absolutely nothing that she could do to reverse the edict put in motion by Haman, the highest officer next to the king.

Esther’s uncle Mordecai, succeeded in getting a message to her of the imminent disaster waiting for their people, but at first Esther couldn’t see any path for herself to avert the slaughter. Mordecai wrote his famous words: “Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14)

It was the law of Persia that no one was to appear before the king in the throne room without being invited. It was punishable by death. Esther didn’t know for sure the depth of Xerxes’ attachment to herself: she had not been invited into his presence in a month.

Xerxes extended his scepter, and Esther lived to plead the case of the Jews.

The book of Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not make reference to God or Lord. It is a story that takes place in a land of exile. The presence of God in the events of the book is evident in the simple, profound, action of Esther herself. She first called for fasting from Mordecai and the Jewish community as well as herself, and then she stood by the pillar in the throne room waiting to know if she would live or die.

Esther is a pre-figure of Christ himself, as she offered her life for the rescue of the whole Jewish population in Persia. Her action resulted in the defeat of Haman, and the elevation of Mordecai to Prime Minister, freeing up the Jewish people in Persia and bringing them favor in the eyes of the rest of the people, as well as of the court. To this day Purim is celebrated in the Jewish community in remembrance of Esther’s sacrifice.

A young woman with almost no options for her life, and without mentioning His name, displayed the Holy Spirit in her courage and desire to preserve God’s people. We are blessed to know her story.

Love in Him,

Prue