Haman, A Lesson of Pride: Part Two

No doubt, Haman had to be anticipating greatly to receive such an honor.  All of that changed in one moment.  Instead of identifying Haman as the honoree, “…the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the the king’s gate:  let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken” (Esther 6:10).  I can only imagine how the demeanor/body language of Haman had to change when he heard those words.  Maybe not, maybe he was so dumbfounded, and/or scared of revealing his disdain for Mordecai, that he stood there without giving away his indignation.  Either way, Haman was now the appointed one to make sure that Mordecai received his honor.  So, “Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour” (Esther 6:11).

Once the honor had been bestowed, Mordecai returned to the king’s gate to mourn what was to happen to his relatives, the Jews.  Haman, on the other hand, returned to his house “…having his head covered” (Esther 6:12).  Like a spoiled child who did not get his way, Haman pouted and told his wife and friends of what had transpired.  Keep in mind that his wife, Zeresh, was not the best one to trust in this situation.  It was she who devised the plan for gallows to be built so that Mordecai could be hanged thereon.  Now the king had honored Mordecai.  What would be his reaction to Mordecai being put to death?  Also, some “wise men and Zeresh” explained the conundrum in which Haman now found himself.  They said, “…If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him” (Esther 6:13).

Haman might have felt that it could not get any worse than what had already befallen him, but he would have been wrong.  During the discourse with his “wise men” and wife, the king’s chamberlain came to bring Haman to Esther’s prepared banquet.  Keep in mind, Haman was still under the assumption that he was being honored by the invitation.

On the second day of the banquet, Ahasuerus told Esther, “…What is thy petition, queen Esther?  and it shall be granted thee:  and what is thy request?  and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom” (Esther 7:2).  What transpired next is a great lesson in reaping what one sows.  “Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:  For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish.  But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage” (Esther 7:3-4).  I wonder if Haman started to get a clue as to what was about to transpire.

As a husband who loves his wife, I can readily understand how enraged Ahasuerus must have felt when hearing such news.  It is written, “Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so” (Esther 7:5)?  It was then that “…Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman” (Esther 7:6).  The next recorded sentence says all that we need to know about Haman’s reaction, “…Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen” (Esther 7:6).  Angrily, Ahasuerus went to the garden, and during that time, Haman tried to plead with Esther for his life (Esther 7:7).  During this attempt, Ahasuerus returned from the garden and saw Haman “upon the bed” of Esther.  Ahasuerus thought that Haman was so bold as to try and force himself on Esther.  Albeit an understatement, things were not going well for Haman.

It was then that Haman’s face was covered, “And Harbonah, one of the king’s chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman” (Esther 7:8-9).  After hearing the testimony of both Esther and Harbonah, the king’s pronouncement was quick and sure.  He said, “…Hang him thereon” (Esther 7:9).  “So they hanged Haman on the gallows the he had prepared for Mordecai” (Esther 7:10).

Thankfully, Haman’s plan did not succeed.  Mordecai was not hanged, and the Jews were able to defend themselves against genocide.  With that being stated, there is a great lesson that we can learn from the life of Haman.  Serving honorably is something that each should esteem to do.  Haman was one who did such for a period of time.  However, one must be careful not to allow praise and commendation to go to one’s head.  Part of Haman’s downfall was his pride.  He thought too highly of himself.  Instead of ignoring Mordecai, Haman stewed on the fact that Mordecai did not bow to him.  This led to bad decisions.  They were so bad that Haman eventually would be hanged on the very gallows that he had built for Mordecai.  We must never allow pride to cause us to err in such ways.  There are many verses that indicate the dangers of pride.  “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.  Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud” (Prov. 16:18-19).  “But he giveth more grace.  Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).  “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD:  though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished” (Prov. 16:5).  Let us learn from the mistakes of Haman, and let us make sure that we do not fall victim to pride.
~ Corey Barnette