Esther’s Lessons For A Hidden Church
Published By: Irene Petrakis, ICEJ Australia
“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PurimThe festival of Purim offers a timely opportunity to reflect on the book of Esther and its lessons for us today, especially as we face an alarming rise in antisemitism both in Australia and worldwide. Esther serves as a powerful reminder of God’s unwavering faithfulness to the Jewish people during uncertain times, emphasising the importance of standing with Israel and partnering with God as He brings His promises to pass. It illustrates God’s irrevocable commitment to His covenant with Abraham and shows that – from Haman to Hamas – judgement awaits those who seek to harm the “apple of God’s eye” (Zech. 2:8). Even when God seems hidden, He is actively working behind the scenes to fulfil His promises and carry forward His redemptive plans.
The story centres on Hadassah, a Jewish orphan living in the Persian diaspora. Through a series of seemingly fortuitous events, Hadassah gains favour with King Ahasuerus and becomes Queen Esther, all the while hiding her Jewish identity. Interestingly, though “Esther” is her Persian name, its Hebrew root, hester, means “hidden”, reflecting both Esther’s hidden identity and God’s apparent hiddenness in the story.
At Mordecai’s urging, Esther reveals her identity at a pivotal moment, intervening after Haman convinces Ahasuerus to issue a decree to destroy the Jews. Her courage results in a new decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves, and Haman is hanged on the gallows originally intended for Mordecai. In a pattern echoed throughout history, the Jewish people triumph over those who sought their destruction – a victory marked by Purim.
God’s Faithfulness To Israel In Times Of Silence
Esther is unique among biblical books because it doesn’t explicitly mention God, yet His providence is clear throughout. This apparent hiddenness underscores God’s faithfulness, even in times when we feel He is being silent in our lives. God remains in control and committed to His covenants, even when all hope seems lost. In the face of existential danger and uncertainty, God orchestrated events to preserve His people, in faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham.
Mordecai’s famous exhortation, that Esther may have come to the palace “for such a time as this” (Est. 4:14), highlights God’s divine timing and providence. It suggests that Esther was purposely placed in the right place at the right time to deliver her people. This was not a mere coincidence, but a powerful act of divine intervention.
Even more striking is Mordecai’s warning to Esther that, should she remain silent, deliverance for the Jewish people would nonetheless arise from another source, and Esther and her family would not escape the consequences of inaction: “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish” (Est. 4:13-14). Mordecai’s words reflect trust in God’s providence, even in His silence, and His enduring promise to preserve and fully restore the Jewish people, regardless of Esther’s choice.
Mordechai had no need to be discouraged that he was not hearing an audible word from God, for he trusted God’s Word and the promises within it – the primary means through which God reveals Himself to humanity even today. God had promised Abraham to bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him (Gen. 12:3) and swore that Abraham’s descendants would inherit the land of Israel (Gen. 15). Thus, Mordecai was confident that their deliverance would come, whether Esther acted or not, in fulfilment with the covenant oath sworn to Abraham (Deut. 4:29-31; Jer. 30:3; Ezek. 26:16-38). Mordecai understood that God was working behind the scenes to preserve the Jewish people, moving toward the ultimate fulfilment of His promise – the return of all exiles the land.
Just as it is today, God will not abandon the Jewish people, despite what antisemites and proponents of replacement theology may claim. He will always protect the Jewish people and ensure the fulfilment of the irrevocable covenant with Abraham.
Accordingly, Esther’s own salvation would be at stake if she refused to intervene on behalf of her people. In the end, although approaching the king uninvited carried great risk, Esther chose to trust God and align herself with His will, even if it meant sacrificing her own life. With great courage, she declared, “If I perish, I perish” (Est. 4:16). In doing so, she placed God’s kingdom above the fleeting riches of the kingdoms of this world, a choice that Christians are called to make today, especially as we stand with Israel at a time when it is not popular to do so.
Esther’s Lessons In A Culture Of Antisemitism
Mordecai’s exhortation to Esther serves as a call for Christians today to stand with the Jewish people amidst the unprecedented rise in antisemitism. His warning that Esther herself would face the consequences if she did not act echoes repeated admonitions throughout Scripture about the repercussions of remaining silent when the “apple of God’s eye” is threatened (Gen. 12:3; Zech. 2:8-9; Jl. 3:1-3).
In this climate, we must follow the courage of Esther and Mordecai, standing firm against cultural tides and instead standing with Israel to ensure the horrors of the past are never again repeated. We must be sober minded on this matter and refuse to be conformed to the patterns of the world (Rom. 12:2).
Esther’s Exhortation For “Hidden” Christians
The story of Esther serves as a powerful reminder that the Church cannot remain “hidden” in the face of growing hostility toward the Jewish people. Today, many Christians are either indifferent or actively hostile toward Israel. Yet, we are called to follow the example of Esther and Mordecai, not being passive bystanders, but active defenders of the Jewish people in times of trouble.
Mordecai’s exhortation shows that we will not just be judged for hostility, but also for silence and apathy – precisely what Esther was at risk of doing. Paralleling Joel 3:1-3, Jesus echoes this message, warning that neglecting to minister to his brothers carries grave consequences (Matt. 25:31-46). Recognising this, the Church must not remain hidden but follow in Esther’s footsteps, praying for and standing in solidarity with the Jewish people, even at the cost of our own lives. By either opposing or failing to stand with them at this critical time, we risk being in opposition to God Himself. Paul also warned that we risk being cut off from God’s family if we display arrogance toward Israel (Rom. 11:18-21), much as Esther risked being cut off if she failed to act.
We must heed Paul’s warning and reject any arrogance toward the Jewish people. Haman is just one of many figures throughout history who sought to destroy the Jews, only to be destroyed themselves—a pattern this will likely continue. As Esther 9:1 states, “On the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them”. This historical pattern serves as both a warning to Israel’s enemies and a comfort to the Jewish people today.
Haman – like Hamas and other antisemitic forces today – is merely one in a long line of Satan’s agents, intent on destroying Israel and disrupting God’s redemptive purposes. This spiritual hostility is rooted in the enmity between the seed of Israel and the seed of the serpent, which began all the way back in Genesis 3:15. Esther’s story is just one chapter in this ongoing spiritual drama, and we must align ourselves with God in this story, not with Satan and his agents, like Haman.
God’s Power Through Humble Vessels
Esther also serves as encouragement and inspiration for those who feel oppressed or overlooked, but who wish to stand up and make a change, especially women. It is significant that God chose Esther – a humble orphan girl – to glorify Himself and deliver victory over Haman.
It is also noteworthy that Haman was a descendant of Agag, a king of the Amalekites, ancient enemies of the Jewish people (Est. 3:1). Centuries earlier, Saul was commanded to destroy Agag but disobeyed God (1 Sam. 15:3). Saul was a Benjamite, just like Mordecai and Esther (Est. 2:5). God used humble Esther and Mordecai to reverse this disobedience and secure further victory over Amalek. This highlights the enduring influence of the “spirit of Amalek” throughout history, a spirit bent on destroying the Jewish people (Deut. 25:17-19). Yet, the seed of the woman—here represented by Esther as a foreshadowing of the messianic seed to come, which fulfils the prophecy of the seed—ultimately triumphed over the serpent’s forces.
The story of Esther fits within a broader biblical pattern where God uses humble women facing various adversities – such as Sarah, Hannah, Ruth, or Mary – to exalt the meek over the arrogant and fulfill His redemptive purposes. More universally, it reflects the guaranteed victory of the Jewish people, God’s chosen seed, over the seed of the enemy. This truth should be a source of encouragement for Christians worldwide: no matter how small or insignificant one may feel, God can use anyone to make a profound impact. While antisemitism may seem overwhelming, even a humble woman – considered a second-class citizen in her society – can be used by God to triumph over such evil.
Esther And The Unveiling Of The Church
Esther calls us to remain steadfast in our faith in God, especially during life’s storms, while warning of the consequences for those who oppose His chosen people. But judgment is not reserved only for those who openly oppose the Jewish people; it extends to those who remain silent on the matter of Israel (Matt. 25:31-46).
We must heed Mordecai’s warning, follow Esther’s example, and align our actions with God’s plan for Israel. We are commanded to pray for Israel (Ps. 122.6) and provide her comfort during this time (Isa. 40:1). We must prayerfully act against antisemitism in all its forms and not remain passive. The Church must remove the veil from its eyes concerning Israel and become a beacon of light amid the growing darkness of hatred toward the Jewish people. We are called to hold fast to God’s Word, including His promises for Israel, even when all seems lost, and to stand firm against the spiritual evil of antisemitism.
Read more into the Purim story in the article:
The Spirit Of Amalek
Also, Hear David Parsons speak on:
