On Purpose: Nehemiah and EstherSample

Overview of the Book of Esther

In the book of Esther, God is never mentioned, but His providence is everywhere.

The author of Esther made a fascinating choice not to mention God in the story explicitly, but if you're paying attention, the threads of His divine work are all over the place. The book brilliantly features moments of "coincidences" and "happenstance," which save the Jewish people from a plot to destroy them.

This story is a reminder that even when God seems absent, He does not abandon His people. He works in our lives and stays faithful to His promises even when we are living in the midst of exile.

A classic story of good versus evil, the book of Esther is a unique account in the Bible. It gives us a glimpse of the Jewish people who remained outside their homeland after the exile, particularly those living in the Persian Empire.

God uses Esther and her uncle, Mordecai, two exiled Israelites, to rescue his people from annihilation. It's a story of triumph and is still celebrated by Jewish people every year on the holiday of Purim.

To learn the context of Esther –watch this short video by the Bible Project. It will help give you a deeper understanding of this book of the Bible.