Why I Almost Gave Up on the Book of Esther…

Written By Maria Josefina Juarez

I’ll be honest; I’ve always had mixed feelings about the Book of Esther. God’s name isn’t mentioned once. The hero, Queen Vashti, gets banished for having dignity. And Esther is thrown into a terrifying, objectifying beauty pageant. It felt… worldly. But I’ve been digging into the margins, and I realized I was missing the point. The silence isn't an accident—it’s the message.

I’m working on a reflection series into how God hides His identity until the perfect moment, the dark math behind Haman’s 10,000-talent bribe, and why a sleepless night was the biggest miracle of the Old Testament. God is working even when He isn't speaking. Stay tuned to the blog—this one is full of "aha!" moments. 🤫✨

This reflection series in the Book of Esther will be over 7 days:

  1. The Theology of Silence: Feeling like God is silent in your life? You aren't alone. Why the silence of God is actually an invitation to trust His hand. When was a time you realized God was working only after looking back?

  2. The Unsung Hero: Reframing Vashti not as the "bad queen," but as the woman who said "No" to objectification. Her refusal created the entrance for Esther’s purpose. Vashti lost her crown to save her dignity. Esther risked her crown to save her people.

  3. Grace in the “Meat Grinder”: The "Purification Rituals" (oil of myrrh) as a physical preparation for a spiritual assignment. Sometimes God positions us in unfair, uncomfortable places because that’s where the control panel for history is located.

  4. The Forensic Profile: A Nurse’s diagnosis on one of the Bible’s biggest villains. Analyzing Haman’s rage when Mordecai refuses to bow. Diagnosing the "Narcissistic Injury"—a 75-foot gallows built to soothe a 2-inch ego (Hello Somebody!).

  5. The Sleepless Night: How a single bout of insomnia turned the tide of history. The "Great Reversal" begins here. "Providence over Miracles." God controls the King’s sleep cycle to save His people.

  6. Nahafochu: What does that even mean? How do you even pronounce that word? The theme of Nahafochu . The gallows Haman built became his own. The trap you set for others eventually becomes your own. The table God prepares for you is often in the presence of your enemies.

  7. The Clinical Chart: The Bible is descriptive, not prescriptive. It shows us a broken world healed not by a loud miracle, but by a silent, sovereign God.

Maria Josefina Juarez