Queen Esther kept giving him funny looks.
Her Majesty had unlawfully come into the King's court today. Haman had thought she would be killed on the spot, but King Ahasuerus had extended his scepter-and life-to her. Haman might have pushed the issue with the King, but turns out Queen Esther was inviting the King and himself to a banquet. Haman was certain there was more to this story, and time would tell all the succulent details. He would certainly be among the first to know. For now he would drink wine and be merry.
No one else had been invited to the banquet the lovely Queen Esther had prepared! Haman figured that said something about his rank, his status in this kingdom. Indeed, it said something about Haman in general. He was above them all.
But a short time later, Haman did not feel so jubilant. He saw Mordecai at the king's gate. It did not surprise him that Mordecai did not rise or tremble with awe before him, but it still filled him with rage. Why, he had just been dinning with the King and Queen! To come out here, and see such insolence was outrageous. He wanted to run Mordecai through, right then and there! He could not wait any longer.
Inhaling sharply, Haman restrained himself and went home. He would send for his friends and his wife, Zeresh. He would recount his glory and success. His favor and honor. His riches, splendor, and advancements. Even the magnificent number of sons he had.
Haman did just that. They fawned all over him, acting as if he were king himself. "Even Queen Esther let not one but me come with the King to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the King." Mordecai's face flashed before him. Haman scrunched his eyes closed in agony and frustration, for it was all meaningless. "Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."
"What if Mordecai wasn't at the king's gate? What if he was dead?"
His eyes popped open. "What do you mean?"
"What if a gallows was built?" His friend said.
"Fifty cubits high!" His wife added.
"And in the morning, petition the King to have Mordecai hanged upon it! Then you can go joyfully to your feast," said another.
This was perfect. This way Haman would be rid of Mordecai immediately. Once and for all.
Haman was feeling better already.
Based on Esther 5:4-14
It was choices that led Haman to this point, this point on the opposite lines of God. We always need to remember that the stands and choices we make can raise us up, or separate us from God. In Esther 3 we see that Haman choose to avenge his pride. From there, it morphed into a stand against God's people, and God Himself.
"I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3
"The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you.They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways." Deuteronomy 28:7
"But the multitude of your foreign foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff." Isaiah 29:5a
"At evening time, behold, terror! Before morning, they are no more! This is the portion of those who loot us, and the lot of those who plunder us." Isaiah 17:14
Haman choose to stand against Mordecai. It was the wrong stand. He choose to stand against one of God's people, and as we can see from the above verses, that doesn't end to well for the challengers. The Bible is filled with examples of men and women who stood against God and His people. And we always see God rise up, and avenge His people, defend His people, and deliver His people. We see Haman come to such a realization in Esther 6. We talked about how Haman had to take Mordecai through the city, proclaiming how the king delighted in Mordecai. Oh, how God arranges things! That must have annoyed him so much! Then in Esther 6:12-13 we see the people in Haman's life say, "Dude, Mordecai is of the Jewish people. You are already starting to fall before him. You will not overcome him. You're going down." It's so awesome knowing that our Father, our God, our King will take care of us like that!
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31
Indeed, who can stand against us? As long as we walk with Jesus, nothing, no one, not even the prince of darkness can stand against us.
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