The book of Esther is hidden away and not always well known. If you have heard of Esther, perhaps you have thought of her as a beautiful woman living an easy life in a palace with a handsome, powerful husband and surrounded by luxury. But if you read her story, you soon realize how wrong you are!

Esther's story actually involves hatred, pride, ambition and violence, and so has lots to teach us today. Here Helen Clark describes the reality behind the romance, and shows how God "the hidden person in the story" helped Esther to be courageous so that he could save his people from destruction.