Part 12- Planning Mordecai's Demise

ESTHER 5: 9-14 NLT

We are continuing with our series, “Esther: The Story of Purim”. Part 12 is called, “Planning Mordecai’s Demise”, and we discuss Haman’s reaction to Esther’s invitation to attend a second banquet. The question we will address today is, how does self importance blind you?

9a Haman was a happy man as he left the banquet!

Haman was a happy man:

Haman was on an emotional high. The word for ‘happy’ can also be translated ‘joy’ (1). The ultimate narcissist, the man felt jubilant, as if he had won a triumphant victory. All of his star gazing, networking, social climbing, manipulation, and domination finally paid off! He now attends banquets with the most powerful man and woman in the world! The king and queen considered him on the same level of importance as themselves!

Missed it!

Notice, although he’s the world’s greatest astrologer and supposedly, the heart’s of all men lay bare before him, he never picked up on any negative feelings that Esther felt toward him. In fact, he totally misread the entire situation.

9b But when he saw Mordecai sitting at the palace gate, not standing up or trembling nervously before him, Haman became furious. 10a However, he restrained himself and went on home.

From joy to fury:

While joyfully whistling a happy tune on his way home, Haman noticed Mordecai guarding his post, obviously unimpressed by him. This is the second recorded instance when Haman realized that Mordecai did not bow to him according to the law of the king. The first instance was in Esther 3: 5&6.

Even though Haman knew that Mordecai would be killed on March the 7th of the following year, it just wasn’t soon enough for him. He couldn’t take the disrespect that Mordecai displayed. Haman’s hair stood on end and the rush of hot blood flushed his face, he was so infuriated! Amazingly, he always restrained himself from immediately striking back. He always thinks before he acts and assesses the circumstances to dispense the maximum amount of damage.

10b Then Haman gathered together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 and boasted to them about his great wealth and his many children. He bragged about the honors the king had given him and how he had been promoted over all the other nobles and officials.

Lots of friends:

Home was his sanctuary and there he could vent about his issue with Mordecai to the people he trusted. He called all his “friends” so all the elites of Persia came to his house, you could probably include the “Think Tank” from chapter 1.

Wife of gold:

Like Xerxes, Haman married a woman of worth. Her name was Zeresh, which means ‘gold’ (2). Haman’s marriage with Zeresh paralleled Xerxes’ with Esther. He loved his wife and they had a relationship of mutual respect. It is also possible that she came with a dowry that was worth its weight in gold! He obviously was an extremely wealthy man and their union may have added to his wealth.

Wealth:

The first thing he did after he left the queen’s banquet was to boast about his wealth. He was so filthy rich, he could donate millions if not billions of dollars and still have more than enough money to continue living his extravagant lifestyle.

Children:

Second most important: Then he boasted about his posterity, his ten sons. Ten is symbolic of the law and he viewed them as being the lawmakers of the land along with him, and long after he passed away.

Accolades:

Thirdly, he flashed his medals and pointed to the display case filled with trophies and autographed photos of him shaking hands with the king. How highly Xerxes thought of him!

King’s favorite official:

Fourth, obviously he was the King’s favorite! He was favored over all of the other dignitaries the king ever invited to his home! After all, he was the sole guest of the banquet given by the king and queen!

12 Then Haman added, “And that’s not all! Queen Esther invited only me and the king himself to the banquet she prepared for us. And she has invited me to dine with her and the king again tomorrow!”

13 Then he added, “But this is all worth nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew just sitting there at the palace gate.”

A hate deeper than gratitude:

His hatred for “Mordecai the Jew” exceeded all of the joy associated with the magnificent blessings that he had been bestowed upon him. It doesn’t matter that Mordecai and all of the Jews will be murdered and their property confiscated this time next year. Haman was miserable because even at the penalty of death, Mordecai refused to worshipfully bow to him. Mordecai’s demise simply couldn't come fast enough.

14 So Haman’s wife, Zeresh, and all his friends suggested, “Set up a sharpened pole that stands seventy-five feet tall, and in the morning ask the king to impale Mordecai on it. When this is done, you can go on your merry way to the banquet with the king.” This pleased Haman, and he ordered the pole set up.

On the same page:

Zeresh was united in purpose with her husband, so she never questioned his hatred, but understood it completely. Remarkably, his “friends” also understood the logic of his reasoning and found it imperative to remain in his good graces.

Make Mordecai a Public Statement:

Don’t be vexed, Haman. You don’t have to wait until next year! Kill Mordecai, now! Do it in the most humiliating, most painful way possible. Make it a very public statement. Let all the Jews know what they have to look forward to.

Haman’s pain relief:

This was suggested in order to alleviate Haman’s suffering and humiliation. They determined that public impalement would satisfy his hatred towards this man and then he could properly enjoy all of his blessings without any emotional hindrances.

Haman and the king are BFF’s:

But, evidently, he needed Xerxes permission to publicly impale Mordecai. Zeresh and his “friends” knew that Haman and the King were BFF’s, so they were positively certain that the king would grant his request. After all, any enemy of Haman is an enemy of the king! Right?!

In Haman’s mind, it was a done deal, so with a spring in his step and a song in his heart, he ordered the pole to be set up for Mordecai’s execution.

Let’s pray,

Father,

Self importance is a dangerous trap and blinds us from the truth of the matter. Give me wisdom to discern when my ego is out of control. I repent of it now. Thank you, Father, for Your love and protection. In Jesus name, Amen.

References: