As end-time prophecies continue to occur, if there were ever a story from the Bible written for these times that we can turn to for guidance, the Book of Esther should definitely be one of the stories at the top of the list. You must have read the story of Esther and God’s saving work during the Jewish exile in Persia (now known as Iran).
In case any part of the story is unclear or forgotten, here’s a refresher.
Esther’s story
In the Book of Esther, the Jews were in exile and under pagan rule, so they were expected to live like pagans and were pressured to adopt pagan lifestyles and religious rituals. They were targeted for extinction because they had a unique culture, worshiped a single god, and had religious practices that contrasted sharply with the indigenous peoples.
And Esther was the Jewish woman God used to pre-empt Haman’s plan to exterminate the Jews in the kingdom. It was for this divine purpose that Esther rose from complete obscurity to nearness to the king of Persia. Her close relationship with the king helped her avoid what could have been a catastrophe. namely, Haman’s evil plan to exterminate the Jews and drive them from the land.
It is a story about completely submitting to God’s will, even at great risk. Esther rose to the occasion. She submitted her will to the Lord, even at the cost of her own life, to save the Jewish people from annihilation.
God’s Hidden Plan in the Last Days
Note: invisible to skeptics, but obvious to the faithful
God’s silence is not God’s absence.
It becomes clear to us that God’s presence was visibly at work during the Jewish people’s triumphant journey in the land of Egypt, from the time of Moses’ call to the forty years of their wandering in the sun-drenched desert, until the Jews were tested to the core before entering the land their hearts had been yearning for so many years. God’s helping hand also appeared in the days of Noah, when Lot and his family were rescued from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and when he narrowly escaped death from the destruction of Nineveh.
But the story of the salvation of the Jews of Esther’s day is anything but ordinary. The hand of God is less evident in the events that led to their rescue from Haman’s conspiratorial plan of annihilation. However, even though God is not “seemingly” visible, He is actually working behind the scenes, paying close attention to the details.
From hiding in the shadows to becoming known, Esther’s journey was orchestrated only by God himself. The king loved Esther more than any other woman, and she received more grace and favor in his eyes than any other maiden. So he put a crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti – Esther 2:17 NKJV.
The question is, how can we know for sure that God played a role in averting the destruction of His people when He is not even mentioned in the story?
If we read the Bible diligently, we truly know God. We have insight into God’s character, His ways, and how these guide His actions in different situations. It is never mentioned that God was responsible for bringing Esther, a once unknown woman suddenly to fame when God tipped the scales in the king’s favor, into the spotlight.
But we know that it was God who made us do it. Because God uses ordinary people to carry out His plans, to sway the hearts of those in power, to curry favor with the anointed or those whom He has chosen to carry out His vision, and God has shown time and time again that the plans set in His heart will come to fruition.
Let’s take a closer look at these Bible verses:
“Now God caused the officials to show favor and compassion to Daniel.” Daniel 1:9 NIV
“Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has kept these things in the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem.” Ezra 7:27 NKJV
“And the merciful hand of God was upon me, and the king granted my request.” Nehemiah 2:8 NIV
The Book of Esther Gives Us Reason for Hope
The serious problems we face today can provoke fear and anxious thinking, just as the Jewish exiles of Persia must have felt when trying to understand the real danger. The onslaught of troubling events happening around the world, such as concerns about the risks of AI, moral decline, violence, infectious diseases, and growing persecution of Christians even in democracies, can stoke fear and make the future feel a little uncertain for all of us.
And unlike in the days of Moses and the Bible stories, when people were rescued by God and His hand was visible and reassuring, some of us today may find it difficult to trace God’s hand amidst the chaos swirling around us. We don’t have Moses, Abraham, the prophets, or the ancient Biblical heroes who led God’s people through turbulent times.
God, our present help in time of need.
However, the book of Esther gives us hope. Looking back, our situation has some similarities to Esther’s time. Immorality was rampant, believers in God faced severe persecution, and there were no biblical heroes like Noah, Moses, Abraham, or Samuel or prophets (who had direct communication with God) to turn to. God’s name was not even mentioned or quoted in the story of the deliverance of the exiles to Persia.
However, an unknown woman named Esther appeared on the scene and the rest was history.
Not only did they survive Haman’s planned extermination attempt, but they thrived and thrived in the kingdom after God averted catastrophe against His people.
And like the exiled Jews in Esther’s time, we will not be ignorant of what is to come or unsupported. Whether or not God’s hand is visible in our current situation, we are confident that we will never be abandoned to protect ourselves.
“God is our refuge and strength, ready to help us in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 KJV
We have a God who has been faithful to believers for generations. I myself have received God’s grace and unwavering faithfulness many times through the ups and downs of life.
And if there is another tool to help us meet adversity in this difficult season of the last days, it is the end-time prophecies that God inspired ancient prophets like Daniel, and later the apostles, to write to be our guides. This is your compass to get you through the dark days ahead. God has also brought us trusted pastors, like Mordecai back then, to help us make sense of these difficult days. God reminded us that we need to overcome our fears and serve the Lord according to the skills and talents He has given us in order to spread the good news of salvation to everyone we meet. Even if doing so is frowned upon as it increases hostility to conservative Christian beliefs.
modern servants of our time
Not many pastors today preach about end-time prophecies when God’s people need them most. Nevertheless, God has set aside reliable, principled, conservative Christian pastors such as Pastor David Jeremiah, Pastor Jack Hibbs, Pastor Amir Tsarfati, and Pastor J.D. Farag to lead us through the dark seasons of the last days. There are also television networks and YouTube channels you can follow that support traditional Christian beliefs and share end-time prophecies unapologetically and fearlessly, such as Salem Web Network, 700 Club, Olive Tree Ministries, and Generation 2434.
Don’t be afraid, stay still
Finally, the lessons of God’s faithfulness found in the book of Esther are practical not only for helping us overcome the challenges of the last days, but also for our personal lives. When you feel like God is absent or uninterested in your struggle, remember that God’s work is not always immediately visible. He has things going on behind the curtain.
Remember what the exiles in Persia once felt. I thought God had abandoned me, but in the end I realized that the Lord was working behind the scenes to keep everything together so that the enemy wouldn’t destroy me.
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 NKJV
“Now, when these things begin to happen, lift up your heads, for your salvation is at hand.” Luke 21:28 NKJV
Because we have a faithful God, we live fearlessly knowing that our blessed hope, the Second Coming of the Messiah, is not a matter of “if,” but “when.”
“Blessed is the man who reads the words of this prophecy and keeps what is written therein, for his time is at hand.” Bible 1:3 NKJV
Related Resources: Finding Peace in Anxiety
“As God’s people, we are called to act boldly and courageously. But when our lives become smaller and smaller because of fear of what might happen, we actually stray from God’s purpose and plan for our lives.” Fear is real, and that’s because we actually have something to fear. However, in some cases, survival instincts like fear can go into overdrive and cause you to feel unnecessarily anxious. In today’s episode, Nicole reveals what to do when your fears start to make you anxious and affect your decision-making. If you struggle with anxiety, this is a must-listen episode. This episode is part of the How to Study the Bible podcast. This show brings Bible reading to life and helps you understand even the most difficult parts of the Bible. If this episode helped you know and love God more, follow the How to Study the Bible podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/PhotoAlto/EricAudras
Liz Pineda holds a degree in English Education from Assumption University in the Philippines. She is an English teacher by trade, but currently works as a freelance writer for online publications and e-commerce websites. Although she enjoys writing for a variety of niches, she still finds creating content for the Christian community the most fulfilling.
