Esther—God’s Rescuing Agent

Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration (Esther 9:20–22).
If one were to summarize the Book of Esther in ten words or less, one might write: A girl becomes a queen and saves her beloved people. The epilogue is even easier to summarize, using six words: Let us be thankful and celebrate! The celebration of Purim was established to commemorate this event.
In the Book of Esther, we find a witness of how God intervenes on behalf of His people through an unlikely means—a young orphan girl named Hadassah. Hadassah was among the maidens from which a queen was to be chosen for King Xerxes of the Medo-Persian Empire. Of all the maidens in the land, Hadassah (Esther) was chosen.
Not long after she was made queen, an enemy of the Jews rose to power in the empire. Haman the Agagite diabolically obtained authority from the king to kill all the Jews, to wipe their race from the face of the earth. To pick the day to carry out his plot, Haman cast lots, or pur (from which the word Purim is derived), and the lot fell on the 13th day of the month of Adar (March 8th this year).
Queen Esther became aware of the plot when Mordecai, her beloved cousin and adoptive father, was found sitting in sackcloth and ashes before the palace. When Esther asked why he mourned, he not only told her of the plot, but also warned Esther that she would die along with her countrymen if Haman’s plan was carried out. Thus, when the time for action came, Esther exposed the diabolical plot of Haman to the King. By God’s grace, the plan to destroy the Jews was stopped and turned on the enemies of the Jews. Instead of the Jews being annihilated, many of their enemies perished. As a result, the Jews had rest from their enemies.
Interestingly enough, the name “Esther” means “hidden.” The Hebrew traditional title for this book is “Megillat Hester,” literally, “revelation of [that which is] hidden.” This traditional title clearly delineates the fact that God works through many things, including ordinary people, to carry out His gracious will. As He does, God is often hidden from our eyes. This profound understanding of how God works is seen in the tradition of wearing masks or costumes in the celebration of Purim. Through the “mask” of an individual, the person of Esther, God’s protecting hand was revealed and God’s people saved.
God cares for us today in this way 
More often than not, God is hidden from our eyes as He works through His “masks.” He provides food for us through the farmers and grocers. He cares for our sicknesses through doctors, medical technicians, and medicines. He nurtures us through our parents or adoptive/foster parents, who provide for all our earthly needs. He protects us through policemen, who watch out for our safety, and He protects our land through our military. In truth, the Lord provides all these things for us, although it is hidden from our eyes.
How are we to respond to this knowledge? Purim is often celebrated by the exchange of gifts (see Esther 9:22). As God provides for us in “hidden” ways, we are led to acknowledge His gifts and give Him thanks. The greatest of these gifts is the sending of His Son into the world to live a holy life in our place and to die bearing the just punishment for our sins. For this reason, we too confess, “And he [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
Our living for Jesus includes our earthly stewardship of time and talent as we perform willing service to others. As God’s instruments, we use what gifts He has given us—the Gospel, to reach others for Christ, reflecting His love in all we do. Through our generosity in support of our church and its missions, Christ is proclaimed and the Holy Spirit works faith in the hearts of those who hear it. Once again, in this hidden way, God is working through us and our stewardship of the time, talents, and treasures to reach others for Christ.
A part of Esther’s stewardship was to recognize her time and position, and when she did, she acted decisively to save her people. May we also act decisively and boldly in accord with the gifts given to us so that others might be saved through faith in Jesus.
Daniel Basel is the ELS Giving Counselor and lives in Mankato, Minnesota.