Queen Esther’s Legacy in Iran

Iran regularly makes it into the news cycle for one reason or another. A few months ago, the big scare was that the Islamic Republic of Iran was close to making a nuclear bomb. In case you are wondering, that is still true. Recently, Iran has been sending drones to Russia, and it is preparing to send ballistic missiles as well. But the biggest story from Iran right now is the ongoing protests, and dare I say revolution, 46 days as of this publication, that started with the death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini. As I think of the brave young women in Iran pressuring for change, I cannot help but also think about Queen Esther.

The Iran Queen Esther Connection

I publish a lot about women’s issues and so the current turmoil in Iran strikes a strong chord with me on various levels. These protests started over a woman’s right to choose how to wear a hijab, if at all. And while many men have died (and one must admire their sacrifice), it is the courage and tenacity of women that is capturing the world’s attention. What you may not know is that there was another woman in Iran, a couple of millennia ago, who bravely saved her people. That woman was Queen Esther.

If you are a Bible scholar, you understand the connection, but most Christians probably do not. You see, Iran was not always called Iran. Iran is the modern name for an…