The book of Esther is a beautiful story about the Jews in the time of the Diaspora. The story occurs in the late fifth century B.C. during the time of a Persian king named Xerxes. A young woman named Esther, along with her cousin Mordecai, are central figures in this brief story about God’s saving grace concerning the Jews as a whole. Although God’s name is never mentioned in the book, it is very evident that His sovereign hand is moving right along through the chain of events. Because God’s name is not mentioned in this book some have regarded it as useless to the canon. Martin Luther was so hostile to the book of Esther that he wished it did not exist at all. Others have not been quite so hostile, but many scholars have regarded the book as worthless. This paper will focus on the usefulness of the Book of Esther showing the reader how God, though He is not mentioned, saved His people from annihilation. This one fact is of utmost importance because God’s promises, i.e. Abrahamic Covenant and Davidic Covenant, can only be accomplished through the preservation of the Jewish people. The Book of Esther shows how Satan was and is always at work to thwart God’s promises to His people. Esther is a reminder to Jews and Christians alike that our God is a mighty God, and His deeds and actions are worthy of the highest praise.

God works through the daily events in the lives of His people -- Jew and Gentile. It is in the midst of the seemingly difficult trials that people go through that God appears to be hard at work. Things do not always go the way people believe they should go, but God is working out His good and perfect will through these trials. Even when His people make decisions which are contrary to God’s good and perfect will He is still able to work out all things for His own glory. Nothing happens outside of His will, and His sovereignty can be seen in everything. The Book of Esther is a reminder of that.

Why is God’s name not mentioned? Does this fact serve to bring the message of the book across? What if the Book of Esther did not exist at all? What is its use in the Christian church today? Is God’s sovereignty manifest in the book?

The first act of God’s sovereignty in the Book of Esther, reading chronologically, is the fact that Queen Vashti refused to come into King Xerxes’ presence. Her failure to do so caused the king the become very angry -- angry to the point of divorcing her and seeking a new wife. God was even at work in Xerxes’ advisors because it was their council that he listened to. They advised Xerxes to banish the queen and seek another. Had Queen Vashti not refused the king his request then the entire story would never have occurred the way it did. But Queen Vashti did refuse the king, and her refusal sparked the chain of events that were to follow. God is working, but this will not be evident until later on in the story.

There was a man named Mordecai, a Jew, who had not gone back to Judah with the captives. For one reason or another he had stayed behind. The obvious reason will be God’s sovereignty. Mordecai had a young cousin named Esther whom he had been put in charge of because her parents had died. She was a Jew and she was beautiful. Her beauty caused her to become the next queen. Xerxes was well pleased with Esther, but he did not realize she was a Jew. As a result of Esther becoming queen, Mordecai became one of the king’s officials. God’s sovereignty has now taken the next step of placing His people in positions of influence within a foreign land.

God works a very pivotal act in the life of Mordecai at this point. As he is serving at the palace he overhears two of the king’s eunuchs plotting to kill the king. He reports what he has heard to Queen Esther, who still takes her orders from Mordecai, and Esther reports this to the king. After an investigation is held the two men are hanged for conspiracy, and Mordecai is given credit for saving the king’s life. All these events were recorded for the king to see. This event, for the time being, is meaningless, but God has reserved this for a future time in order that His good and perfect will might be accomplished.

As time passes it appears that Satan goes to work in the life of a man named Haman. Haman came to power and reigned as King Xerxes’ right hand man. He was held in high esteem by everyone except Mordecai. Mordecai, for one reason or another, refused to bow to this man. His refusal caused Haman to hate Mordecai intensely. This hatred turned into a plot, not just to punish Mordecai, but to completely annihilate the Jews -- a plot that King Xerxes gave his approval to. Satan’s activity here is evident because God’s promises are made through the Jews. Without a Jewish race of people to carry out God’s plan God becomes un-sovereign and a liar.

Once Mordecai learned of the plot to annihilate his people he informed Queen Esther. The queen had to make a decision at this point because her un-announced presence with the king to ask him about the matter was a dangerous one. To go before the king without having been summoned meant death in many cases. After expressing her timidity to go before the king to Mordecai, Mordecai gives her a quick lesson on God’s sovereignty. He tells her that she may very well have been put in her influential position for this very reason. Moredecai is certain of God’s promises for the Jewish nation because he knows deliverance will come from somewhere -- even if it isn’t in his lifetime. God’s name might not be used here, but it is very clear that Mordecai is claiming God’s promises when he expresses his faith that the Jews will be delivered. Queen Esther is convinced that God has put her in the position of queen for a reason, and she acts in faith.

Once again God’s sovereignty is evidenced by the fact that Xerxes did not kill Esther when she came into his presence. He loved her, and he gave her the chance to make her request known. God has placed her in the position of queen for a reason. After she invites the king and Haman to her banquet she goes to make preparations. Xerxes’ love for Esther is what she is counting on to save her and her people, but God is making other preparations as well in order to implement His perfect plan. As Haman gleefully goes home, he sets up a gallows in order that he might kill Mordecai -- the man who refuses to give him honor. This is a sad example of how the wicked rejoice when their doom is just around the next corner.

The next act of God is quite evident. Haman is at home rejoicing in what the next day will bring -- the death of Mordecai whom he plans to kill. But King Xerxes has insomnia. This insomnia is without a doubt an intervention by God. Xerxes calls his servants to bring in the historical records of his kingdom in order that he might read them. While reading them during the night he comes across the God-ordained conspiracy to kill him. When he realizes that Mordecai was the man who saved him from assassination he asks his servants what reward the man received for his noble actions. Xerxes makes arrangements to reward Mordecai for his loyalty, and it becomes evident that God put Mordecai in that position for a reason. God’s sovereignty is playing itself out in the lives of the Jews. He has not forgotten His people -- even in a foreign land under foreign domination.

The king is informed of Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jews at Esther’s banquet -- among whom are his wife Esther and his loyal servant Mordecai. Upon hearing this he is furious, and he calls for the death of Haman. Haman, before he died, was forced to honor the man who refused the honor him -- Mordecai. His twisted plot was thwarted by God’s sovereignty. As the story progresses, God saves His people from the initial decree to destroy the Jews throughout all 127 provinces (from India to Ethiopia). The Jews celebrated a huge victory -- all because God placed Esther and Mordecai in strategic positions of influence throughout a pagan empire. His sovereignty is unmistakable in this brief and beautiful book.

Other indicators of God’s presence in the book are evident. In Esther 4:3, 16-17 the Jews are found fasting because of the crisis at hand. As Dr. Howard has shown, fasting in the OT is almost always associated with praying, and the purpose is to move God to action. Also, in 6:13 Haman’s wife and friends assure Haman that he cannot succeed in his plot. This expresses a knowledge of Israel’s past history and the ultimate triumph of the Jews’ cause through their God.

Esther is the only book of the Bible where the name of God is not mentioned. Furthermore, no copies of the book have been discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Law is never mentioned nor are sacrifices or offerings referred to. Although the book does not mention God by name, it speaks plainly of His overruling in the affairs of men, and his unfailing care for His people. Had Haman’s plot succeeded there would have been no Nehemiah and, far more important, no Christ.

Dr. Howard has suggested that the best solution for the absence of God’s name from the book is that the author is being intentionally vague about God’s presence in events. Time and again the author seems to come close to mentioning God, only to veer away abruptly. By doing this the author appears to be affirming two things: that God is involved with His people, and that perceiving this involvement is sometimes difficult. "While the author and his readers know that God is always present and in control, the experiences of life show that the specific manifestations of His presence are not always so clear." The Book of Esther is a very realistic commentary on life, and it is possible that its author wanted to make his readers ponder carefully God’s involvement in it.

The book of Esther is a priceless book. All other books of the Bible make it obvious who and what is influencing the actions of the characters, namely God. Not Esther. It seems to be more for the mature reader who is knowledgeable about God, about mankind, and about the nature of things. This is a preachable book in the Christian church today. As already noted, God’s sovereignty is evident throughout. The daily events in the lives of the characters within the Book of Esther are easily applied to the daily events in the lives of people up to the present generation. There are no kings and queens today, but government is alive and well. If God uses men and women to influence government today the way He did during the time of Esther then this book is quite applicable. God works through the most meaningless circumstances in the lives of people in order to accomplish His good and perfect will. In the present day, government is crying out for Godly leaders who are willing to pray and fast when injustices rear their ugly heads. The Book of Esther shows just how influential one Godly leader, who is willing to submit to Biblical authority, can be.

The events which occurred in Susa, where the Persian kings reigned, were a threat to God’s purposes to redemptive history. For the Christian today, the Book of Esther shows that the existence of God’s chosen people, along with the appearance of the Messiah through that race of people, is of utmost importance. "Here in a distant city hundreds of miles and several centuries removed from events in Bethlehem God still providentially ruled the course of history and brought it steadily to the appearance of His own Son who would break down that barrier between Jew and Gentile (Galatians 3:28)."

It should be evident that the Book of Esther is a book which was included in the canon for a reason. The preservation of the Jews is important because it shows God to be true to His word. The book plainly shows God’s sovereign hand preserving His promises and delivering His people. It is a book which should cause its readers to rejoice because God is continually at work. Esther was a faithful woman, and her beauty, attitude, and faithfulness to submit to Mordecai’s leadership ultimately saved the Jewish people. Of course it was God who saved, but this book, without using the name of the Almighty, shows real people in real-life situations, using the influence that God has given them to bring glory to God. Ultimately, that is what the Book of Esther does.

Dillard, R. & Longman, T., 1994. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, page 197.

Eerdmans Handbook to the Bible, 1973. "The Book of Esther." Alexander, D. Ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, pp. 313-15.

Howard, D., 1993. An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books. Chicago: Moody,

pp. 315-32.

Martin, J., 1985. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. USA, Canada, England: Victor Books,

page 699.