If there were any Bible stories written for this time, ones that we could turn to for guidance at this time, as latter-day prophecies come in rapid succession, the Book of Esther should certainly be one of those stories at the top of our list. You must have read the story of Esther and God’s saving work during the exile of the Jews in Persia, now known as Iran.
Here’s a reminder, in case some elements of the story are unclear or forgotten.
Esther’s story
In the book of Esther, the Jews were in exile and under pagan rule, and as such they were expected to live like pagans, driven to adopt a pagan lifestyle and religious rituals. Coming from a distinct culture, a people who worship a single God and whose religious practices contrast sharply with those of the natives, they were the targets of extermination efforts.
And Esther was the Jewish woman God used to thwart Haman’s plan to wipe out the Jews in the kingdom. It was for this divine purpose that Esther was catapulted from total obscurity to the proximity of the Persian king. It was her close relationship with the king that helped her avoid what could have been a total disaster: Haman’s devious plan to decimate the Jews and crush them from the land.
It is the story of total obedience to God’s will despite the risk. Esther rose to the occasion. She submitted her will to the Lord, even though it might cost her life to save the Jews from extermination.
God’s Hidden Plan in the Last Days
Note: Invisible to skeptics, obvious to the faithful
The silence of God is not the absence of God.
In the triumphal journey of the Jews into the land of Egypt, it becomes clear to us that the presence of God was visibly at work from the time Moses was called to those forty years of wandering through that sun-drenched desert, when the Jews were tested to the deepest depths before entering that long-sought land where their hearts had been pining for years. The redeeming Hand of God was also visible in the days of Noah, in the rescue of Lot and his family during the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, in the flight of Nineveh from destruction, and so on.
But the story of the redemption of the Jews in the time of Esther is not entirely ordinary. The Hand of God is not as visible in the events that led to their rescue from Haman’s plan of annihilation. Yet, although He is “seemingly” out of the picture, God is actually very detail-oriented, working behind the scenes.
From shadow to knowledge, Esther’s journey could only be orchestrated by God himself: the king loved Esther more than all other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his eyes more than all virgins; so he placed the royal crown on her head and made her queen in place of Vashti – Esther 2:17 NKJV.
The question is: how can we be sure that God played a role in preventing the decimation of his people when he is not even mentioned in history?
If we are devoted readers of Scripture, we know God by heart. We get insight into his character, his ways, and how they guide his behavior in various circumstances. It is never mentioned that God was responsible for catapulting Esther into the spotlight, a woman who was once unknown but suddenly rose to fame when God tipped the scales in her favor with the king.
But we know it was God who did it because, time and time again, he has shown that he uses ordinary people to carry out his plans and that he will influence the hearts of those in power to show favor to his anointed or anyone he chooses to carry out his vision, ensuring that the plan he has set his heart on will come to pass.
Let’s take a closer look at these verses of Scripture:
“Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion toward Daniel.” Daniel 1:9 NIV
“Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing in the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.” Ezra 7:27 KJV
“And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests.” Nehemiah 2:8 NIV
The Book of Esther Gives Us Reasons for Hope
In trying to make sense of the real danger, the serious problems we face today can trigger fears and anxious thoughts, just like what the Jews exiled from Persia must have felt. The onslaught of troubling events happening around the world, such as concerns about AI risks, moral degradation, violence, infectious diseases, and increasing persecution against Christians even in democratic countries, can stoke fear and make the future a little uncertain for us all.
And unlike in the days of Moses or the biblical accounts, where people were saved by God, with His reassuring Hand visibly present, some of us in the modern age may struggle to follow His Hand amidst the chaos swirling around us. We don’t have Moses, Abraham, the prophets, and all the ancient biblical heroes who guided God’s people through troubled times.
God, our very present help in difficulties
But the book of Esther gives us hope. Looking back, our situation bears some similarities to Esther’s day: immorality was rampant, believers in God were subject to intense persecution, and there were no biblical heroes like Noah, Moses, Abraham, Samuel, or the prophets (in direct communication with God) to turn to. The Name of God was not even mentioned or cited in the redemptive history of the exiles in Persia.
But a stranger named Esther entered the picture, and the rest is history.
Not only did they survive Haman’s planned extermination attempts, but they also prospered in the kingdom after God averted disaster against his people.
And like the exiled Jews of Esther’s time, we are not left without insight or support for what is to come. Whether God’s hand in our current circumstances is visible or not, we are assured that we are never abandoned to our fate.
“God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in difficulties. » Psalm 46:1 KJV
We have a God who, for generations of believers, has been faithful. I myself have received his grace and his unfailing faithfulness many times, through all the twists and turns of my life.
And if there is another tool to help us face adversities during these difficult times of the last days, it is the end-time prophecies that God inspired the ancient prophets, like Daniel, and later the apostles, to write, as a guide for us. It is a compass to help us through the darkest days ahead. God also brought us trustworthy pastors who would help us make sense of these difficult days, like Mordecai today, to remind us that we must rise above our fears and serve the Lord according to the skills and talents He has given us to spread the good news of salvation to every person we meet. Although this is frowned upon as hostility towards conservative Christian beliefs grows.
Modern servants of our time
Few pastors today are preaching about end-time prophecies when God’s people need them most. Nevertheless, God has set aside reliable, principled and conservative Christian pastors to guide us through these dark seasons of the last days, such as Pastor David Jeremiah, Pastor Jack Hibbs, Pastor Amir Tsarfati, Pastor JD Farag, among others. There are also television networks and YouTube channels that you can follow espousing traditional Christian beliefs and unapologetically and fearlessly sharing end-times prophecies, such as Salem Web Network, 700 Club, Olive Tree Ministries, and Generation2434, among others.
Don’t be afraid and stay calm
In conclusion, the lessons found in the Book of Esther about God’s faithfulness are something you can actually use, not only to overcome the challenges of the last days, but also in your personal life. When you feel like God seems absent or indifferent to your struggles, remember that God’s work is not always immediately visible. He gets things done behind the curtain.
Remember how the exiles in Persia once felt, thinking that God had abandoned them, only to discover that the Lord had been working behind the scenes, putting all the pieces of the puzzle together to save them from destruction by their enemies.
“Be still and know that I am God. » Psalm 46:10 KJV
“Now when these things begin to happen, lift up your eyes and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near. » Luke 21:28 KJV
We have a faithful God and therefore we live without fear, knowing that our blessed hope, the return of our Messiah, is not a question of “if” but a question of “when”.
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written therein; for the time is near. » Revelation 1:3 KJV
Related Resource: Finding Peace in Anxiety
“As God’s people, we are called to bold and courageous action. But when our lives become smaller and smaller because of fear of what we think might happen, we are actually not in agreement with God’s design and purpose for our lives.” Fear is real, and it’s because we have real reasons to be afraid. But sometimes our survival instincts, like fear, can start working overtime and unnecessarily turn into anxiety. In today’s episode, Nicole explains what to do when our fears turn into anxieties that start to impact the way we make decisions. If you suffer from anxiety, this is a must-see episode. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcasta show that brings Bible reading to life and helps you understand even the most difficult parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple Or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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