Esther Chapter 6. I told you God was in control.
The same night that Haman put up a 75 foot pole to have Mordecai impalled upon, is the same night the king could not sleep so he had someone come and read the book that keeps records of his kingship. Recorded in the book was the account of Mordecai exposing the two men who were plotting to kill the king.
The king realized he had never honored Mordecai for his exposing of the evil plot. So the king asked his attendant who was in The palace?
Just then Haman was coming into the palace so he could speak to the king about having Mordecai killed and impalled upon a pole. The king however wanted to honor Mordecai so he asks Haman what could be done to honor the person he delights in? Because Haman thinks the king is talking about himself he made sure he said a wonderful idea.
Haman suggested:
1. Have your Noble prince put a royal robe the King has worn on to the man to be honored.
2. Have your Noble Prince put the man to be honored on a horse you have ridden with a Royal Crest on the horse.
3. Have your favorite Prince escort the man on the horse throughout the city streets proclaiming great honors for the man to all the people.
The king loved his idea so much that he told Haman to go at once and do this for Mordecai.
Afterwards, Haman returned home with such grief. His wife and friend said, things don't look good for you because Mordecai is a Jew and the King will not be delighted to see Mordecai die. Just then the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman to Esther's banquet.
I love this book of the Bible. I love reading accounts where God takes what looks like a horrible situation and turns it around. Then he glorifies himself. Chapter 6 is just a glimpse and start into what God is going to do. I would have loved to have been there when Haman escorted Mordecai throughout the streets saying honorable things about Mordecai, the very man he hated. He gets to escort Mordecai who refused to show Haman honor and now Haman is honoring Mordecai. If I was Mordecai, I would have loved to have enjoyed the ride and carried on great conversation with Haman. I probably would have been talking to him like we were best friends.
3 thoughts from this chapter:
1. Like Mordecai, be faithful to the Lord. Don't compromise your faith at home, at work, or around your peers. Don't compromise, be faithful even if it means losing your friends, your job or your family, or even your life. Be faithful! Proverbs 28:20 speaks of being faithful to the Lord.
2. Like Haman, don't focus on man's approval over God's approval. Man's approval on this Earth is very temporary. It might be a great feeling and boost one's ego or confidence, but it's temporary. Making God's approval your priority, May mean persecution on Earth but your reward for God's favor over man's favor is eternal. John 12:43 gives warning towards those who seek man's approval over God. Matthew 25:21 speaks of the great rewards that we receive for seeking God's approval over man. James 4:4 says that friendship with this world is hatred toward God.
3. Like King Xerxes, show people love dignity and respect. Don't look down on anyone. Love the lowly person just like the popular person. Honor the insignificant one just like the popular person. Romans 12:10 says to love one another and to honor others above yourself.
Haman is a man who has his heart full of hatred and selfishness. Not only does he hate Mordecai, but he has planned to have all of the Jews killed! It would be nice to say that this kind of hatred towards people doesn’t exist in our world today, but that is not the case because our world is full of sin and the effects of sin.
I’m reminded today of a passage from 1 John 4:18-21.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”