Yeshua in the Writings: Esther
One of the characteristics of Esther that has always captured my attention is how timeless the story feels. It’s a story that feels like it could have been written for today—full of political intrigue, unexpected reversals, and a heroine who has to decide whether to risk everything for the sake of her people. What I love most about it, though, is how Yeshua is hidden in its pages. Just like God's name is never mentioned, His presence is unmistakable. Yeshua is there, woven into the very fabric of the story.
The Low Places: Hadassah’s Beginning
Long before she became Queen Esther, she was Hadassah, a name that means myrtle. I find this so fitting because the myrtle tree doesn’t grow in high, majestic places. It grows at the bottom of the ravine, in the low places. It thrives where other plants might wither, its roots reaching deep into the soil.
That speaks to me because I think we’ve all had our “low place” moments—times when we’ve been pressed down, overlooked, or felt stuck in the valley. But the myrtle is evergreen; it doesn’t wither in the changing seasons. Like myrtle, we are called to stay fresh in our time with Yeshua, continually renewed in His presence.
Isaiah 55 says something beautiful about myrtles:
"Instead of the thornbush, the myrtle will grow..." (Isaiah 55:13)
Thorns sting. Briars pierce. We’ve all experienced wounds that cut deep. Haman’s very name means magnificent, reflecting his arrogance and desire for power. He saw himself as lofty, untouchable—yet his greatness led only to destruction. In contrast, Hadassah’s name speaks of humility, a myrtle tree growing low in the ravine. And yet, it was she, not the so-called magnificent one, whom God used to bring redemption. In the same way, instead of judgment, God gave us Yeshua—the One who humbled Himself, wore a crown of thorns, and suffered so that we wouldn’t have to remain entangled in them. The world exalts the proud, but God lifts up the lowly and uses them to bring deliverance.
Dressed for the King
Can you imagine what it must have been like for Esther to stand before the king? The weight of it? The fear? She knew she couldn’t go before him as just Hadassah, the orphaned Jewish girl. She had to go as Queen Esther, clothed in royal garments, carrying the authority of her position.
That hits me hard because it’s exactly what Yeshua does for us. We don’t walk into the presence of God in our own strength. We are clothed in His righteousness, wrapped in His favor, so we can boldly come before the throne of grace. Esther had been through a season of preparation but didn’t have to fight for her place. The king lifted her up. And that’s what Yeshua does—He lifts us up, positions us before the Father, and says, “This one is Mine.”
The Chaos and the Crown
Haman is a striking picture of the spirit of rage and destruction—a man so consumed by pride that he sought to annihilate an entire people simply because one man refused to bow to him. His fury wasn’t just about Mordechai; it was about power, control, and the demand for worship. How often do we see that same spirit at work in the world today? Hatred spreads like wildfire, and chaos threatens to consume everything in its path.
This mirrors the moment when Satan tempted Yeshua in the wilderness, offering Him the kingdoms of the world in exchange for one thing—worship (Matthew 4:8-10). But Yeshua refused to bow. Just as Mordechai stood firm against Haman’s demands, Yeshua stood firm against the adversary, rejecting the path of compromise. The enemy always seeks to exalt himself, to demand submission, and to destroy those who resist. But Yeshua overcame, not with rage, but with truth and obedience to the Father. And in the end, just like Haman, the enemy’s own schemes will be his undoing.
But here’s the contrast: Yeshua is the spirit of Shalom. He brings peace in the midst of the storm. He stands in the face of chaos, just as Esther did, willing to lay everything down for the sake of her people. And that moment when she approached the king, knowing he held the power of life and death over her? That was a foreshadowing of what Yeshua would do on our behalf.
"If I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16)
She was willing to bear the weight of the risk, stepping into the throne room on behalf of her people, just as Yeshua bore the weight of our sin and stands before the Father as our advocate. Esther didn’t plead for herself—she stood as a representative, interceding for those who had no voice. In the same way, Yeshua continually stands before God on our behalf, advocating for us, covering us in His righteousness, and ensuring that mercy triumphs over judgment (Hebrews 7:25).
Just as the king extended the scepter to Esther, granting her favor and sparing her life, the Father extended grace to Yeshua, raising Him from the dead and exalting Him above all things. And because of Yeshua’s victory, we too can boldly approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), knowing that the One who stands in the presence of the King is pleading our case, securing our redemption, and declaring, "This one is Mine."
The Great Reversal
One of my favorite parts of Esther’s story is how everything turns upside down. Haman’s plan was set in stone—it couldn’t be undone. And yet, through divine intervention, what was meant for death became a decree of deliverance. The gallows meant for Mordechai became the instrument of Haman’s downfall.
It reminds me of how the enemy thought the cross would be the end of Yeshua. It was supposed to be the ultimate defeat. But instead, it was the great reversal—the moment when sin and death were defeated once and for all.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Esther’s people went from mourning to joy. From the brink of annihilation to victory. And that’s exactly what Yeshua does—He turns our grief into rejoicing, our despair into hope.
The Hidden Hand
What stands out the most in Esther’s story is how God is never mentioned—yet His fingerprints are everywhere. It’s a reminder that even when we don’t see Him, it doesn’t mean He isn’t working.
Yeshua said something similar:
"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29)
It's impossible to read Esther's story and miss the countless "just so happen" moments—those divine coincidences that seem too perfectly timed to be mere chance. Esther just so happened to be chosen as queen. Mordechai just so happened to overhear a plot against the king. The king just so happened to have a sleepless night and read the exact record of Mordechai saving his life.
These moments weren’t accidents; they were the hidden hand of God at work, orchestrating deliverance before His people even knew they needed it.
And isn’t that how Yeshua works in our lives? We may not always see His hand at first, but when we look back, we recognize how every detail was woven together for a greater purpose.
Esther’s story reminds us that nothing is random. You may feel unseen or insignificant, but your life is full of "just so happen" moments—divine appointments, protection you didn’t realize, and opportunities that appeared at just the right time. Just as Esther was placed in the palace for such a time as this, you have been placed exactly where you are for a reason.
So, as you step forward in faith, trust that even the smallest details are being orchestrated by the One who never stops working behind the scenes. Yeshua is present—even when hidden—and His plan for you is unfolding in ways you can’t yet see.
For Such a Time as This
Esther’s story isn’t just about her. It’s about us.
She was placed in the palace for such a time as this (Esther 4:14), just as you and I have been placed where we are for a reason. Maybe you feel like you’re in a low place right now, like Hadassah in the ravine. Maybe you’re facing something that stings, like the briars surrounding the myrtle tree. Or maybe you feel like God is hidden in your story, and you’re waiting to see how everything unfolds.
But let me remind you—Yeshua is present, even when He is unseen. He is the One who lifts up the humble, who clothes us in righteousness, who stands as our mediator and intercessor.
The question is: Will we step forward in faith?
Esther didn’t know how it would all turn out when she stepped into the throne room, but she went anyway. She trusted that the God who had positioned her there would not abandon her.
