Today in God’s Word

Today in God's Word—May 2023

East Tallassee Church of Christ

May 7, Esther 7

Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance of the king, said, "Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high." And the king said, "Hang him on that." So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated. - Esther 7:9-10

Have you ever had one of those days when things didn’t go well, and in frustration you said, "Well, what else could go wrong? How much worse could it get?" Maybe Haman thought the worst was behind him after he was humiliated when Ahasuerus commanded him to dress his enemy Mordecai in royal robes, put him on a royal horse, and parade him through the city square, proclaiming, “This is what is done for the one the king wishes to honors” As galling as it was to do that, it was only the beginning of bad coming to Haman. Things were about to get a lot worse.

It's easy to see why Haman could still smile and go to the banquet at Queen Esther's quarters. After all, who else was dining with the king and queen for the second day in a row? And despite the shame of his forced duty to honor Mordecai, he still had his plan to get rid of Mordecai and all his people.

After the fine meal, Haman was enjoying a glass of wine with the king when Ahasuerus asked Esther, "What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request?" He repeated his boastful offer from the previous day: “Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled."

Haman may have had his first hint that things were about to go horribly wrong for him when Esther answered that her wish was for her life to be granted, and her wish was for her people to be spared. Esther went on to say that she and her people had been sold to be destroyed, a

clear reference to Haman’s payment to Ahasuerus and his plan to destroy the Jews. Haman's devious mind began to race. The queen was a Jew? Oh, no. The king was angry and demanded to know who had done this. Then Esther played her trump card, and the game was over. "A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!"

The king rose in anger from his seat and went out to the palace garden. But Haman stayed behind with the queen and begged for his life. If Esther's timing was perfect, Haman's could not have been more wrong as he invaded the queen's personal space to intensify his plea, just as the king came back into the room. Ahasuerus interpreted the move as an assault against the queen, spoke the word of judgment and the servants covered Haman's face. The king liked the idea of hanging Haman on the gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai. So that was where the wicked enemy of Mordecai and the Jews died.

Haman was dead, but the threat to the Jews was still looming. After all, Haman had signed and sealed it with the king's approval. It was an irrevocable law. Esther still had some work to do to save herself, her cousin and all her people.

Haman's fate is a good illustration of what King Solomon meant when he said, "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.” God was firmly in control of the situation. The Jews would have been spared somehow. But let's remember how Haman became a victim of his own devious design, and be careful about what we wish and plan for others. The tendency of such plans to backfire has been well known for a long time.

Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.