About the Esther Story
Discover how God’s providence, courage and redemption weave together in the life of Esther and point us toward Jesus.
The Story of Esther
The book of Esther recounts how a young Jewish woman living in exile rose to become queen of Persia and courageously risked her life to intercede for her people. Through a series of providential events, God uses Esther and her cousin Mordecai to expose the wicked schemes of Haman and deliver the Jews from destruction. Though God’s name isn’t mentioned in the book, His hidden hand is woven through every chapter, orchestrating circumstances for His glory and the good of His people.
Key themes in Esther include God’s sovereign providence working behind the scenes, courageous faith in the face of danger, selfless intercession on behalf of others, and dramatic reversals where the humble are exalted and the wicked are brought low. Esther invites us to look beyond the surface, to trust that even when we can’t see Him, the Lord is at work unfolding His redemptive purposes.
As followers of Christ we see Esther’s story pointing forward to Jesus, the true and better Savior. Esther risked her life to plead for her people, foreshadowing Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Mordecai’s exaltation after humble service prefigures the way Jesus was exalted after dying in our place. The Jews’ deliverance anticipates our deliverance from sin and death through Christ’s death and resurrection. When we trace the golden thread of providence through Esther, our hearts are lifted to worship the One who lovingly guides all things for His glory and our eternal good.