Thank you for the question on the reason for the absence of the word, God, in the Book of Esther, “I read the book of Esther and noticed that ‘God’ was never mentioned in the whole book. Is there any theological or historical explanation as to why God is not mentioned in this book?
Many readers have noted that the Book of Esther does not mention the term, God, in the book. Your observation is correct.
Although one does not know exactly the reason why God is not mentioned in this particular book, here are some thoughts for one’s consideration:
A. The Post-Exilic Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther does not reveal any direct revelation from God.
As the people returned to the Promised Land and rebuilt the Temple with the encouragements of the Post-Exilic Prophets, it is interesting to note that upon completion of the Temple, there are no further direct revelation from God in the next 400 years. It is called “the Silent Years.”
Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther recorded the response of the Jewish leaders toward God as in confession or praying before God, but not that God spoke to them. Scholars believe that either Joel or Malachi were the last two prophets whereby divine revelation was given. Can it be that God doesn’t haven’t anything to add to what he has already spoken?
B. The Prophet Malachi records the last words of God of a coming forerunner.
God reveals to the nation of Israel that the next event will be the coming of the forerunner of the Messiah. They will have to wait for God to send that forerunner of the Messiah.
Malachi 4 says this, “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. 3 Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty. 4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction” (NIV).
Thus in my understanding of the text at the end of Malachi, God has nothing further to add to what he has already revealed. Does this mean that God is not involved in the nation of Israel?
C. The people were to prepare themselves for the coming of the forerunner by remembering and fulfilling the Law of Moses. They were to be a repentant people so that God would send his servant to bring in the Kingdom of God.
As one looks at the exiled Jews in Babylon and in Jerusalem, the Jews failed to follow the Law of Moses. As far as one knows only Daniel and his three friends were faithful to God before King Nebuchadnezzar. When Nehemiah left to return to Susa, the people of Jerusalem ignored the Law of Moses. Mordecai was one of the few who refused to bow to Haman.
As long as there was a godly leader over Israel, they sinned less outwardly but their hearts were still far from God. Depending on the ruler or governor over Israel, the spiritual condition of Israel was drastically affected by it as led by Ezra who brought religious reform and Nehemiah who brought political and social reform.
D. The faith of Esther and Mordecai in God is seen through their action without offending the different religions within the Persian Empire.
It may be that through Daniel’s life that the Jewish people that some or many Jews had an elevated position in the Babylonian and Persian rule. It is likely that there were Jews who had been accustom to their new land and didn’t want to return to the Promised Land. Ezra had to ask for priests and Levites to return to the Land.
Can it be that the lack of the mention of the God of Israel was to avoid offending the royal court of the Persians or the appearance that the Persian Empire was now the new Promised Land? Esther was queen and Mordecai became the prime minister. Their influence must be great in the court for certainly with the death Haman everyone knew about the Jews and their faith. Could it be that Esther and Mordecai did not want to offend Darius’ belief in his deities or different nationalities with their deities?
E. Lastly since God didn’t give any direct revelation to Esther, Mordecai or through a prophet, they may not wanted to presume that their actions were directly from God.
Since God didn’t reveal his will directly to them, they may not wanted to give the presumption that they knew the will of God. They made decisions based on the wisdom that God gave to them. They entrusted themselves to God without imposing their beliefs on non-Jews. Esther’s attitude was similar to Daniel’s three friend who refused to bow to the image of Nebuchadnezzar. The challenge by Haman was not against the God of Israel but against a people group, the Jews. Esther and Mordecai needed wisdom in how to proceed in the hatred of Haman toward Mordecai. They trusted that God would intervene in his own way since no prophet arose to speak on their situation.
For those who are followers of Jesus, God does not give direct revelation as to what a believer to do in a particular circumstances. The believer asks prays and asks for wisdom from God and entrusts that God will guide his decision according to the revealed Scriptures (Jam. 1:2–7).
Can it be that God wanted his people to learn to live more by faith in accordance to the revealed Scriptures than waiting for a prophet to rise up to direct them as to their actions? It may be time for the Jewish people to live more by faith than wanting to hear a direct revelation from God.
SUMMARY: Esther may well be a testimony of the providence of God even though God’s prophet is absent and the absence of his name in this book. He is present with his people even though one doesn’t see him or even hear his name.
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