A Little Haman
The most arrogant people are often those who must measure their self-worth by the power or influence they think they have over others. Haman was an extremely arrogant leader.
He was already filled with racial hatred for all the Jewish people because of the long-standing animosity between the Jews and his own ancestors, the Amalekites.
At the end of the banquet with the King, Esther requested that both the king and Haman come again the following day to another banquet at which time she would answer the kings question. Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. Feeling privileged and chosen.
But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear of his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. However, he restrained himself and went home calling together his wife and friends.
He boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons and the ways that the king had honored and elevated him above other nobles and officials. And if that wasn’t enough, he was the only person that Queen Esther had invited to accompany the king to both banquets.
But….that gave him no satisfaction as long as he could see Mordecai sitting at the kings gate. Haman had it all yet it meant nothing as long as he didn’t receive the submission of Mordecai that he wanted.
Before we get to critical of Haman we need to ask ourselves a few questions. “How much Haman is in me?”
- Do I desire to control others? Maybe we don’t seek for them to bow down to us but do we use manipulation to get what we want from them?
- Am I threatened and even angered when others don’t appreciate me as I think they should?
- Do I want revenge when my pride is wounded?
Haman’s life is written in God’s word as an example and warning to us. When we have those same attitudes we need to quickly confess them to God and ask Him to replace them with a right and humble attitude. Otherwise, like Haman, God’s justice will settle the matter.
Be Intentional about checking your motives and attitude towards others.
Praises & Prayers
Father, it is so easy to make judgements of others actions without thinking of how my own are so similar. Thank you for examples and warnings in Your word and I pray that the moment I begin to point fingers I will check my own heart and actions and align them with Your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Messages from His Word
Matthew 7:4-5
How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.