This book provides an interesting example of the way the face of the Messiah is hidden from the Jewish people. The very name of the book testifies to this, as the meaning of the word Esther is derived from the Hebrew root STR. This same root translates elsewhere in the Bible as “hidden.” And indeed, this is the only book in the Bible that does not mention the name of God or the land of Israel. Some even call this book the “Hidden Faces Book.”
The book describes a period in the history of Israel during which the Face of God has been hidden from his people. However, though He may not be mentioned by name, He is the one pulling the strings behind the scenes and directing the story to its good end, when “for the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor” (Est. 8:16).
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Orna, born and raised in Israel, is a lover of books, and especially The Book. She is fascinated with the Hebrew language and with the God who created the world through the mere expression of Hebrew words. In 2003 she established Ot OoMofet Ministries (Hebrew for “A sign and Example”), whose main focus is turning stories of brokenness and hardships into stories of victory. Besides ministering to the broken hearted in Israel, she now teaches worldwide about the widowhood of Israel, the role the church plays in its restoration and on a variety of other subjects.