The Book of Esther

 

 

My wife and I recently saw a masterful production of the Book of Esther at the huge Sight and Sound theater in Lancaster, Pa. However, in one obvious way, the production departed from the book. The production often invoked the name of “God.” However, the Book of Esther never mentions “God” or any other word for Him.

 

Why not, especially since God is so ostensibly present in the events of the story of His miraculous deliverance of the Jewish people from the hand of Haman? The entire account calls out “God,” but He is nowhere mentioned. Shouldn’t He get the glory?

 

I began to think that this conundrum is a portrait of our own lives, filled with the miraculous presence of the unseen God, who is working all thing together for our good (Romans 8:28), while He never, or at least rarely, audibly even whispers His name.

 

Perhaps the Book of Esther should serve as a reminder for us that our Savior is ever-present, even though we cannot perceive Him. If so, this means that it is required of us to commit to trust in God, especially during great adversity.

 

Mordecai had been under tremendous pressure by taking a stand for God. He refused to bow down to Haman, while everyone else complied to Haman’s demand. Mordecai’s disobedience resulted in Haman’s edict to have all the Jews of the Kingdom of Persia exterminated.

 

I can imagine that the Jews pleaded with Mordecai to relent from his seemingly “self-righteous” stance. However, he wouldn’t but continued to defy Haman’s edict.

 

How easy it is to compromise and betray our faith in God when so much is at stake. How can we understand Mordecai’s fortitude in the face of such widespread opposition and threat? Only by trusting in our Savior and His deliverance!

 

He must have been there to give Mordecai the necessary courage. In the same way, we must trust that His unseen presence is with us as we face life’s trials.