12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:12-16
The Bible contains 66 books, and there is one book that has a unique (some have called it disturbing) feature. There is one book in the Bible that doesn’t mention God; not even once! He isn’t named in this book, nor is He directly mentioned. Which book do you think it might be?
Statistically speaking, some of the short epistles like Jude or 2 and 3 John would seem like a good guess. Surprisingly, though, they mention Him although the word count is small. Maybe one of the Minor Prophets wouldn’t mention Him with their messages of repentance. However, all 12 of them do, too; even the short book of Obadiah does! So, which book doesn’t mention God or His name?
It is the 10-chapter book of Esther! For 10 chapters, God is not named or mentioned as the brave and beautiful queen saves the people in exile with the help of her wise relative Mordecai. It seems strange that a book about how God’s people are saved doesn’t mention Him…at all.
However, God is at work behind the scenes, orchestrating and guiding the events that unfold. While God is not explicitly seen or mentioned, He is certainly at work. It culminates with the book’s most famous verse. Mordecai tells Queen Esther, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” God was certainly directing affairs behind the scenes so that His people might be saved from destruction. God had directed the events that led to Esther becoming queen, and He had instilled in her the bravery and courage needed for the task at hand. Just a few verses later, she says, “Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”
I’m personally not bothered that the book of Esther doesn’t mention God. I think it is great. Why? I think it is because Esther perfectly depicts our lives this side of heaven. We don’t often get to see God explicitly working in our lives, but He is, and He does. He has set us here at this place, and at this time. He has a purpose for us, and what He is doing through us. He is doing His renewing and saving work in us through baptism and His Word; a work we don’t often get to see, but that still happens!
As we live out our days this side of heaven, let us rejoice in the God Who works in ways that we often don’t see. Let us rejoice in a God Who showers His good gifts upon us: His grace, salvation, love, and care. Let us rejoice in a God Who has set us here for such a time as this!
Pastor Kooi
(Originally published in Emmaus Footprints, Vol. XXIV, Number 12, July 2023.)