The God hidden in the book of Esther

I was pondering over what to write about next and decided to go through the hidden mysteries in the Book of Esther. Interestingly, Ester means, “ hidden” which should give us a hint that there is more to this book than just a story.

Some compare the time of this book with what was happening in Nazi Germany as the book revolves around the story of the extermination of the Jews.

Here are some interesting things about the book of Esther:

1. There is no mention of the name of God in the book.
2. There is no reference to worship or faith.
3. There is no mention or prediction of the Messiah.
4. There is no mention of heaven or hell.
5. There is nothing "religious" about it.

Even Martin Luther believed it should not be part of the Canon.

The name Esther gives us a clue: it means "Something Hidden"! And if one digs deeper into the story one will actually find that though no mention is there of these things… their imprint is through out the book itself.

The story can be taken in view of flesh against Spirit. Much as the story of Esau and Jacob was the story of flesh against Spirit. In fact Haman was a descendant of Esau, as Esau was the father of the Amalekites whom Saul failed to destroy as God commanded him to. This of course was the motivation of Haman who was attempting in proving God wrong when God declared, “… "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." (Exodus 17:16)

Though no outright mention of God or The Messiah, here are some interesting prophecies in Esther it seems that God is hidden within the text itself. Throughout the book there is acrostics that spell YHWH. One is found in Chapter 5:4, “"let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him." In that the words in Hebrew broken down all start with the letter YHWH. This also appeared in 5:13; “Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.” In the words “Yet all this availeth me nothing” again we find the acrostic YHWH.

Now personally I do not take things like the Bible Code that seriously yet this does seem to garner my interest a bit.

The story itself is truly amazing, as it is the story of Israel in total surrender to God for deliverance in the person of Esther. In a sense I personally see that as representing the Church now. In a sense a Christians we are to bring salvation to those who God redeemed at the Cross. We are all “Esthers” in that we being the Bride of the King need stand up and be who we are.
For you see that Esther represents the human spirit with it’s fears and desire to hide ourselves and Mordicai represents the Holy Spirit who admonishes Esther with these words:

4:12. When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, 13. he sent back this answer: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

We have come to a royal position as believers in Christ for such a time like this. We need respond as Esther did in faith:

15. Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16. "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."
17. So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther's instructions.

When we step out in faith, God will do the work that needs be done.

We can carry this thought out a bit more as Xerxes, would represent the “Christian” and Esther the “human spirit”. Haman is the sin that dwells in us. If we are not careful we like Xerxes can allow sin in unaware, for Xerxes did not even know he signed the death warrant for the Jews. Yet, it is God Himself through the Holy Spirit that can expose this sin we cannot see and as I stated Mordecai represents the Holy Spirit.

All would be lost without the Holy Spirit and though God is not mentioned, the Story is of our own salvation… even to the point that Esther is adopted by Mordicai… for we to as Gentile believers are adopted by God as Esther was adopted by Mordicai.

In the end Haman is hung on a gallows… did you catch that? Haman representing sin is hung on a gallows… as Jesus who became sin for us, was hung on a cross. Sin was out to destroy God’s people and in the end, sin itself is destroyed.


(Much of this information I have gathered over the years. I want to thank those teachers who showed me these things and more, though I wish I could know for sure who you were.)