Draw Near – 365 Guides to Greater Intimacy with GodSample

WHERE IS GOD? The book of Esther does not once mention the name of God, nor is there a reference to God or a mention of prayer. Yet, the whole book is charged through with His Presence and protection. This dramatic story is told so masterfully that it is impossible to miss the meaning. The story is allowed to speak for itself without any preachments and thus makes an even deeper impression on the reader. Esther's real name was Hadassah. In Persia, she was known as "Esther" which meant "Ishtar" or "Venus." No doubt the name was given her because of her great beauty. The Israelites' survival was being threatened by a rabid Jew-hater. Haman determined to kill all the Jews and promised a large booty to secure the king's support. His plan backfired because, unbeknownst to him, God had given the king a Jewish wife. Haman was hanged on his own gallows. The message rings out clearly that God protects His people. Mordecai, Esther's uncle, is a dynamic spiritual force in the story. In the hour of deepest crisis, he calls on Esther to rise to the occasion even at the risk of her life. He reminds her that she was called to the kingdom for just such a crisis as this. In the overview, it is easy to see that Mordecai was right. His stirring words ring in our ears today. In a strife-ridden world, we, too, are called to the Kingdom for such a time as this. May we respond as Esther did, in selfless dedication to our Christ.