Observing Haman

Haman was an Agagite who was promoted by King Ahasuerus, and the king commanded people bow the knee when Haman passed by.  There was a man named Mordecai who, day after day, refused to bow and pay homage.  The king's servants enquired to see why Mordecai did not bow, and in conversation he divulged he was a Jew.  Haman was enraged and offended that he was not given honour by Mordecai and Esther 3:6 says, "But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus--the people of Mordecai."  Haman took advantage of his elevated position before the king with the sinister aim of exterminating all Jews because of a personal offence with one man.  He would not stoop to speak directly to Mordecai, but his pride led him to go to the king to murder every Jew in the realm.

Haman was a crafty and deceitful man who, like the devil, offered half-truths to make the way for blatant lies to achieve his self-serving agenda.  Satan is the most clever and crafty of all God's creation, and Haman followed his lead out of hatred of the Jews and love of self.  Observe Haman's proposition to the king in Esther 3:8-9:  "Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. ⁹ If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries."  Haman failed to identify the Jews but called them a scattered people--which implies there were a small number of them.  They were a people who had "different" laws, and falsely claimed they (as a people) did not keep the king's laws.  Because one Jewish man refused to bow before him (while likely all others did), Haman slandered all God's people as disloyal subjects unworthy of life and existence.

Haman judged all the Jews negatively based upon his limited experience with Mordecai, a man he scorned to speak to personally, arrest, or bring before the king.  In seeking the destruction of the Jews by deception, Haman's scheme would lead to His own destruction.  The previous chapter explains this same Mordecai prevented an assassination attempt against King Ahasuerus by sending a message of warning.  The king had recently married the cousin of Mordecai--Hadassah who was called Esther--because he loved her more than all the virgins in his kingdom.  And Haman judged it was unfitting of the king to allow any of the Jews to remain!  Despite his cleverness, Haman's trickery rolled a stone intended to destroy all the Jews that would roll back upon himself and cost him his princely position and life.  Pride comes before a fall, and Haman's fall from the gallows he would construct to kill Mordecai would snap his neck.

As children of the light, Christians ought to avoid the self-serving, subversive tactics of Haman.  He refused to admit his true motivation behind his desire to destroy the Jews, and he walked in the steps of Satan who is a liar, thief and destroyer from the beginning.  Our motive ought to be for the good of others and not their destruction.  Instead of condemning other people or groups due to our negative experiences with one person, we ought to extend grace and mercy to the one who has offended us.  We ought to do what Jesus commanded, that if we have been offended or know someone has something against us we ought to seek to be reconciled with them.  Romans 12:17-19 says to Christians, "Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord."

It is true God's people observe commands of Jesus Christ that are different from the laws of nations and the wisdom embraced by this world.  Haman sought to take vengeance and destroy Mordecai along with all the Jews, and in a stark contrast we ought to follow the golden rule of doing unto others as we would have them do unto us, love another another as Jesus loves us, freely forgive as we have been forgiven, and give move grace.  Our comments and communication ought not be to start quarrels or "destroy" others or their convictions, but to express gentleness, longsuffering and meekness from a heart filled with God's love.  Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 10:16, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."  Believers are not required to give full-disclosure to those who mean our harm, but we ought to be honest and sincere with an aim to honour God always.