God hiding in the book of Esther

This goes along with my "Some Thoughts on Purim" post.



Sometimes it is hard to see the Hand of God in our lives. When things are at their worst or, conversely, when great things happen, we may chalk these up to 'bad luck' or 'good luck.' In hard times we may feel that God hides His Face from us. Like Job, we may ask, "Wherefore hidest Thou Thy Face?... Wilt Thou harass a driven leaf?" (13:24, 25) And if things are going well, how often do we pause to thank God? God actually warns us that we will think our own efforts have produced good things for us. 'You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." ' (Deut 8:17)



In every other book of the Bible, God is mentioned. (Yes, even Song of Songs-see 8:6). We are continually reminded of God's Presence in creation, history, redemption, prayer, thanksgiving, laws and rituals. Yet, with Esther, God is not mentioned. He is in hiding. Esther too, is in hiding. As her name (hadassah) reveals (pun intended :) ). She also hides her Jewish identity from the king, as instructed by her cousin Mordecai.



I believe though, that if we look dilligently, we can find God in Esther. We can see His guiding Hand in getting Esther crowned queen. We see Mordecai's reward for saving the king's life at the very hands of the man who wishes to destroy him. Talk about irony! But that is the very thing which God likes to do. The measure which people use is measured against them. Haman had prepared a gallows for Mordecai. But it is not Mordecai who is hung, it is Haman. Haman planned to destroy the Jews. Yet on the day planned for their destruction, the Jews turned the tables on their enemies and defeated them. Esther is placed in prime position to save her people. That is not mere coincidence. Mordecai refused to prostrate himself before Haman. He did not worship man. He had no other gods before HaShem.



God's hiding also brings to light the maxim: Pray as if everthing depended upon God; act as if everything depended upon you. When Esther is told of Haman's plot and that she must now reveal her identity to the king and try to save her people, Esther replies that she will fast and then go to the king, and if she dies, she dies. Esther leaves her fate in God's hands.

Let us remember that while God may not always be obviously present, He is always ready for you to put your trust in Him.

Chag Sameach (Happy Holiday)!