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Esther was an undercover agent. Esther wasn’t even her real name. She was really called Hadassah (the Hebrew name for the myrtle plant) originally by her Jewish parents. Who, by the way, we never get to hear much about. Nor does she disclose her Jewish identity while in the court of the Persian king Artaxerxes, until absolutely necessary. She was the opposite of showy and brash, just like her namesake, the lowly myrtle bush. She was humble and unassuming, modest and delicate. However, her codename totally suits her – Esther means “star”, like the tiny star shaped flowers of the myrtle, and sounds just like the Hebrew word “hesstair”, which appropriately means “secret”, or “hidden”. There are wonderful lessons to be learned from this Biblical woman of mystery! A well-known fact about the book of Esther is that God also hides between the lines of the story, and His name is not even mentioned once. However, there are countless clues to indicate His activity behind the scenes. 1 Corinthians 10:11 explains that the stories of the first Testament were written down as examples to learn from. The very set up of the story – an ornate palace with woven hangings, silver and golden vessels, furniture, poles and clasps; an “inner room” into which one must not go (or else face death) unless certain strict requirements are met; an all-powerful king enthroned inside who can grant requests, and royal robes as essential dress to approach the king – all reminds us of the tabernacle, the temple, and of the protocol of our meeting God in His throne room. Esther speaks up on behalf of her people, and the myrtle in Scripture is a picture of intercession. In the story, she asks the Jewish people to back her up with three days of prayer and fasting (three days and three nights – how about that) and then dares to go boldly into the throne room, hoping she will find grace. And the kind king does indeed hold out his sceptre to her, inviting her to approach with confidence. In that meeting, she finds favour in his eyes, and he encourages her to ask for whatever she likes, even up to half the kingdom! Click here to read more about this amazing woman! oneforisrael.org/the-secrets-of…