The book of Esther is a unique book in the Bible: It is the only book where God is not mentioned. The unbeliever can read this story and think it a story of courage in the midst of the threat of genocide. The Jews, (s)he would say, were saved by a series of circumstances:
Xerxes happened to be drunk when he requested that Vashti, the woman he'd been married to for who knows how long, parade herself to be ogled at by a group of drunk men. He also was drunk when he decreed that she be banished for refusing to obey such a stupid order.
Hadassah (Esther) happened to be chosen, out of many beautiful girls, to be the next queen.
Mordacai happened to overhear Bigtha and Teresh plan together to assassinate Xerxes, and somebody happened to forget to reward him.
The lots Haaman cast happened to indicate a date that was far off.
Xerxes happened to have insomnia on the night before Haaman was to ask him for permission to build the gallows to hang Mordicai, and he happened to be reminded of Mordicai's loyalty before he fell asleep.
Haaman happened to be in a position where Xerxes would mistake his actions as sexual assault.
The gallows meant for Mordicai happened to be completely built in time for Haaman to be hanged on it.
Was God absent when all this occured? To the Jews of that time who were condemned to die, it must have seemed that way. But God was "backstage" all along, making sure things went as He planned them.
Just like the Jews in Persia, we are living in difficult times. Does that mean God is absent? No. He's in control of everything. He has a plan.
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