Esther

The book of Esther is a place where the Biblical narrative intersects with ancient history. Esther is brought into the palace of the King of Persian, Xerxes. This is the same Xerxes who brought an army into Greece in an attempt to subdue it and whose army the Spartans fought at Thermopylae. The book of Esther is full of intrigue, suspense, and boldness. It records the defeat of Haman, one of the greatest enemies of the Jews. Haman had plotted to destroy all the Jews, only to be stopped by the courageous intervention of Esther, whom Mordecai advised was established in her place "for such a time as this." Behind it all, we see the Providence of God. Even though God is not mentioned once by name in Esther, He is there if we look.