THE INVISIBLE SILENT GOD

There is a book in the Bible (there is actually more than one!) that does not specifically mention God. The book of Esther is a story of a young Jewish girl who was adopted and cared for by a man named Mordecai (2.7). Esther would eventually marry the king of Persia although she would keep her original Jewish nationality and heritage a secret from her husband, Xerxes (2.10). Before Esther could wear the crown she had to endure a twelve month process of purification (12 is the number which represents authority) and a six month period where she was given a ‘beauty makeover’ using the oil of myrrh (Myrrh was used in preparing people for burial. The word ‘myrrh’ can also be translated, ‘bitter’). During Esther’s lifetime a plot stirred in the Persian Empire against her Jewish people under an evil man named Haman (2.5). The young Jewish queen waited and prayed in silence for her people’s deliverance. During this time of emotional unrest and spiritual silence Esther is reminded by her cousin Mordecai, “…you have come into your position for such a time as this...”(4.14). Esther asked Mordecai to fast and pray for her because she, at the risk of her own life, had decided to reveal her own heritage and, the evil plot by Haman. Her own determination in the face of potential loss of life is found in the words, “I will go to the king, though it is against the law. If I perish, I perish” (4.16).

This ‘short story’ reminds us that the realities of life can seem unfair, God can appear to be uninvolved and, people around us (i.e., Haman) do hurtful things. There are other lessons too, like: God puts us in places, situations and relationships that God knows we will be able to handle; extended ‘purification processes’ like the one Esther endured are not fun, but they serve a purpose and, we all have people around us that can encourage us (i.e., Mordecai). My final word, even though God at times appears to be silent and uninvolved remember the words of Paul, “when I was younger I thought like a child. When I became older I put childish ways behind me. Though I see through a glass only dimly, one day I will see all things clearly…” (1 Cor. 13. 11).