Esther 6:1-14

On 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. 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. 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.” 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. And the king’s young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 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?” And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 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. 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.”

14 While they were yet talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.

(ESV)

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That night after Esther’s first banquet, king Xerces could not sleep. He had the court annals brought in and read to him. Part of what was read was an account of how, about five years before, Mordecai had uncovered a plot to have the king assassinated. The king asked what honour had been bestowed on Mordecai for saving his life. Through some oversight, Mordecai had not been rewarded at the time and the king sought to remedy the situation immediately.

The king asked who was in the court. Haman had just arrived intending to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows he’d prepared. He was called in. The king asked Haman what should be done for a man the king wished to honour. In his vanity, Haman couldn’t see the king wanting to honour anyone but himself. Haman suggested that the person be honoured by being dressed like royalty in a robe the king had worn and saddled on a royal horse the king had ridden and then be led through the streets by one of the kings most noble officials proclaiming, “thus shall it be done to the man whom the kings delights to honour.” The king was pleased with Haman’s suggestion and told him at once to go and do everything he had suggested for Mordecai. What a turn of events, Haman had to honour the person he despised most with the honour he most craved for himself.

Mordecai returned to the king’s gate but Haman hurried home in shame. When Haman told his wife and friends what had happened they saw trouble in his future. If Haman had begun to fall before Mordecai, a Jew, then he was doomed to failure. Their response was probably based on their superstitious, fatalistic worldview but they were right that no one can stand against God’s chosen people. While they were still talking, Haman was summoned to return to the feast Esther had prepared. I doubt he returned with the same enthusiasm he had left with the night before.

Consider the timing of all the events that unfolded in this twenty-four-hour period. That the king would have insomnia that night. That of the twelve years of his reign thus far, the court librarian would choose the period of Mordecai’s actions to read. That Mordecai was overlooked for honour when he was. That Haman would arrive at the palace at the time he did. This is not all coincidence, this is God providentially working in the lives of men to bring about His will.

Might you be in danger of falling due to pride? Are you obsessed with acclaim and prestige from men like Haman? Remember Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”


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