Reversal

Esther 6:1–13

¹On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. ² And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. ³ And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” ⁴ And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him. ⁵ And the king’s young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” ⁶ So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” ⁷ And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, ⁸ let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set. ⁹ And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” ¹⁰ Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” ¹¹ So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.” ¹² Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. ¹³ And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”

This is the moment in Esther’s story where the reader suddenly has cause to rejoice. The tables are turned in most unexpected ways and we will watch now as Haman’s evil plot is disassembled.

Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (which has been shortened to “pride goes before the fall”) is lived out by Haman in dramatic fashion. All of us have had nights like the one the king experiences. He just couldn’t sleep and so to help bore himself into slumber he begins to read through the history of his reign. He happens upon the story of Mordecai’s help in revealing an assassination plot against the king, but notices that nothing had apparently been done to thank Mordecai for saving his life. With a commitment to rectifying that over-sight he looks for one of his advisors – and there’s Haman, waiting for an early morning audience with the king. When asked what should be done to honor someone who has so wonderfully served the king, Haman’s pride causes him to assume the king is talking about himself. Haman suggests an elaborate parade that bears all the honor the king can bestow and so that honor is commanded for Mordecai. This turn of events is stunning.

This sleepless night take place between the two banquets that Queen Esther had planned. The stage is set for her to reveal Haman’s plan and hopefully move the king to save the Jewish nation. Events will unfold very quickly and God’s mercy to His people will be complete. If ever there were an object lesson that illuminates the pitfalls of prideful living, this is it. The trap door of Haman’s downfall is set by his own hand - literally. That is the beauty of this story. No one is to blame for Haman’s demise except his own pride.

When Satan tempted Adam and Eve to sin in the Garden of Eden his final blow was to their egos. In the words, “You will be like God” he sets up the sin of pride in the human heart. Each of us carries the propensity for pride inside of our very soul. That pride works itself out in millions of ways but the bottom-line is sin. Haman is to be pitied. He carries unbounded hatred and an ego that knows no bounds. Pride and hatred combined to doom him forever. As Christians, we know that Jesus died for sins as damaging as hatred and pride. But when they rule our hearts, we too are in danger of losing everything. When I read this story of Haman’s foolish choices I am moved to do yet another personal check of my pride and offer up repentance for the sin that I find in the name of Jesus, my Savior.