Haman’s Tragic Demise – More From Queen Esther’s Life
Queen Esther’s Life is full of lessons, not least of which, “Pride comes before a fall.” Does Queen Esther’s Life provide you with any life lessons. Follow Steph to find out.
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The Demise of Haman
Haman had had a terrible time of it. When the king asked how best to honour someone he delighted in, Haman thought the king was referring to him and laid out an elaborate plan. He was devastated when he learned that the man the king wanted to honour was Haman’s arch enemy, Mordecai.
Mordecai Lifted Up
Mordecai, a Jew, had the nerve not to tremble in fear and bow down every time Haman passed. Little did the Haman know that Mordecai had foiled plans to kill the king. Instead of being dressed in the king’s clothes, seated on the king’s horse, and led through town by a king’s official, Haman had to do all this for Mordecai. And he hated every minute of it.
Haman’s Tragic End
I’m sure the distraught Haman thought he’d feel better after his private feast with the king and queen. But God had other plans.
Esther 7 recounts Haman’s tragic end. Verses 1-8 say, “So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, ‘What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.’ Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.’ Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, ‘Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?’ And Esther said, ‘A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!’ Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen” (ESV).
Understandably, the king was furious. And those same gallows Haman had built upon which to hang Mordecai were the gallows Haman died on.
A Cautionary Tale From the Queen Esther’s Life
In a fictitious story, it’s understandable that we would feel a great sense of satisfaction when the protagonist, the villain, gets what he deserves. However, this isn’t just a story. It actually happened and should serve as a cautionary tale to all of us.
Plus, we can see Mordecai’s great wisdom in advising Esther to keep her heritage a secret—at least until the time was right to reveal it.
When Esther first approached the king to set things in motions to save her people, she did so at great personal risk. She hadn’t been summoned, and even the queen was not to approach the king without an invitation—on penalty of death.
But instead of sentencing Esther to death, the king extended his sceptre and offered her whatever she asked, up to half his kingdom. She had, indeed, found favour in his sight.
And now at this, the second feast with Haman and the king, Esther pleaded for her people. I’m sure the king’s official was shocked to learn that the queen, his queen, was a Jew. This once egotistical, self-centred, cruel man was now terrified. A position that he likely could have enjoyed for years, one from which he could have done good for many people, ended tragically.
What can we learn from this story?
Pride Goes Before Destruction
“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18 ESV).
If only Haman had learned this lesson before it was too late. He let one man steal his joy and contentment, and because of that, he was willing to commit genocide.
While we may not be as conniving, as hateful, as evil as Haman, we must be careful to humble ourselves before God and before one another. The Lord loves His people; we can rest in that knowledge. However, that love is to motivate us to action. We are to honour the Lord and seek to bless those He brings into our life. We can do this if our security, our identity, and our confidence are in the Lord.
A Time To Speak
There is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7 ESV).
Queen Esther kept her heritage a secret from everyone until the time was right. And even when she did approach the king on behalf of her people, she had a plan, and it unfolded exactly as God intended.
I’m an extrovert—and yes, I like to talk. I am learning when it’s best to stay quiet and keep my thoughts to myself. Even so, it is an ongoing process. And while I’m not in Esther’s position—nowhere near it, actually—it is still wise to prayerfully consider when to speak and what to say.
One of my favourite verses is James 1:19: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (ESV).
God Works Things According to His Will
God is the One “who works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11 ESV).
Interestingly, the Lord is not mentioned in the book of Esther. Still, the Lord chose to include the book in the Scriptures.
Whether God is acknowledged or mentioned by name, He is still the One who “is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17 ESV).
The Lord was working out His plans and purposes in this story—and in every other story.
Does the Queen Esther’s Life Have a Message For You?
Are you going through a difficult time? Is it difficult to see how God is working things out? Do you have more questions than answers?
As a follower of Jesus, you can rest in His love for you. You can trust that Romans 8:28 is true and He is working it all out for your good.
If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, I urge you to confess your sin and accept the forgiveness and salvation that Jesus secured by His substitutionary death and His resurrection. Surrendering your life to Him is the best thing you will ever do.
This day may we ask God to work out His plans and purposes and may our trust in Him grow—even when we don’t know exactly what He has planned.
Do you have any questions about your journey with God? We are here to help. Visit our contact page!
Steph Nickel
Steph Beth Nickel is eclectically interested and eclectically involved. In all she does, Steph seeks to nurture and inspire. She is currently working on the first book in a nonfiction series. Nurture and Inspire LOVE is a compilation of the first devotionals she wrote for HopeStreamRadio.
Steph is a freelance writer and editor. She is the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’ award-winning memoir, Living Beyond My Circumstances, published by Castle Quay Books. Deb and Steph are working on a follow-up book.
You can visit her website, stephbethnickel.com, to learn more about her.
Visit Steph’s contributor’s page or at Steph Nickel’s Eclectic Interests.
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Images Courtesy of:
Esther Denouncing Haman – Ernest Normand
Roast –scheutz-mediendesign
Gallows – ServiceLinket
Man – 401711
Bible – stevepb
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