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Esther 5:9-13, Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.

Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,  Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

Haman is a piece of work!  After being invited to Esther’s banquet, he sees Mordecai and is enraged that Mordecai does not rise in his presence or show fear.  I can’t help but think what kind of man needs other men to be fearful in their presence.  This is someone who is delusional about their own importance and/or has deep-rooted feelings of insecurity.  Maybe both. 

Haman then calls together his wife and his friends to brag about how great he is.  The only thing that bothers him, he tells this group, is that Mordecai is still sitting at the king’s gate.  Their solution is to have Mordecai impaled on a pole before Esther’s next banquet so that Haman can fully enjoy it.

The horror of their suggestion should not go unnoticed.  Haman’s own feelings of grandiosity (and his friends desire to please him) have become so inflated that nothing else matters.  A gruesome public execution for a seemingly very small offense would serve to demonstrate to the world who has power and who does not.  It would instill fear and keep people in line. 

As you can tell, there is little value placed on human life as well. They are living in the Persian Empire.  There was no issue with slaughtering all the Jews, men, women, and children.  Actually valuing human life is a Judeo-Christian concept.  Jesus especially changed our thinking by demonstrating that all lives are valuable to God.  Because all people are made in the image of God, every single life has value.  God loves everyone. 

Let’s pray…Lord Jesus, May we remember that you love every single person and thus, we are to love and value every single person as well.  Please forgive us for the many times we fail in this area.  Help us see people through your eyes.  In Your Name, Amen.