At the end of Galatians 6:7 by inspiration, Paul provided a universal principle that all mankind would do good to remember within the course of their lives: “for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” What Paul had been discussing in the first six verses was various ways individuals should treat each other, and he summarizes his point by stating this principle, essentially saying that doing good will grant us good, but doing evil will grant us evil. And it is interesting how that life will seemingly always work out to where that fact comes to light. Truly our lives are known by our fruits because we do reap what we sow. It is with that in mind that attention is turned back to Esther’s biographical book.
Usually when one mentions the book of Esther the thoughts that come to mind revolve around the faith of Esther, the providence of God, and the blessing enjoyed by the Jewish people still in captivity. What often is overlooked is the character of a man named Haman. Haman was a close and trusted associate of king Ahasuerus, one who was eventually promoted to a seat above that of all the princes in Persia (Esther 3:1). And with such a promotion, Haman expected all of the honor and recognition that would accompany it. So when “all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman” (Esther 3:2a) it must have thrilled his heart. One thing we learn about Haman through Esther’s mention of him is that he was a very self-centered individual. He truly believed he was due all of the reverence shown toward him by his brethren. Thus, when Mordecai, a natural-born Jew, refused to bow in honor of Haman it enraged him. How could a lowly Jew be so disrespectful to not show Haman all of the glory he believed he deserved? Thus, it was from that day that Haman began to despise Mordecai and to plot against his very life and the lives of his brethren.
In Haman is seen the epitome of wrong thinking. Every problem Haman faced from chapters three to seven came from a wrongly established mindset. He viewed himself to be an exalted and extraordinary individual. Where this frame of mind began we do not know. But the fact that it existed is all too evident. How else could a man have written about him that “when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath” (Esther 3:5), and not know that he was a prideful man. Such a pride, though, represents wrong thinking for this reason: “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Galatians 6:3). What inherent attribute did Haman possess that made him worthy of the reverence he expected? None. Therefore the fact that he viewed himself in such an exalted way is evidence that he, as Paul said, deceived himself. He had wrong thinking, and that caused him to make wrong decisions.
In Haman, also, is seen the epitome of wrathful thinking. Verse five stated that Mordecai’s lack of reverence made Haman “full of wrath.” And then as you continue in the chapter you see where that wrath led him. He immediately began a plot to not only punish Mordecai, but the entirety of the Jewish remnant in Persia. Such actions could only be spurred by a burning, hot hatred and spite for the alleged wrong done to him. However, among the evil works of the flesh is named wrath (Galatians 5:20). Wrath is pictured throughout the Bible in the most negative of ways for this reason: “the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). But as wrong as his thinking was, there was in actuality little hope that his thinking would not also be filled with wrath, which was a detriment to Haman, as will soon be seen.
However, in Haman is also seen the epitome of wishful thinking. How could Haman believe he could use the mighty king of Persia as his puppet of revenge and get away with it? Yes, Ahasuereus went along with the plot at the beginning, but after certain events came to pass and he realized the fullness of Haman’s plan, it is said that he then became full of wrath (7:7). Haman would have fit well into a 21st century setting where everybody believes they can do anything without any accountability for their actions. Such reflected wishful thinking on Haman’s part, and such continues to reflect wishful thinking upon the part of our contemporaries. But it, too, was that wishful thinking that brought destruction to the life of Haman in the end.
Therefore in the course of events, Haman took the step to, in his hatred and wrath, build gallows upon which he planned to have Mordecai hung for his refusal to give him reverence. But because of his wrong, wrathful, and wishful thinking, Haman came to reap what he had sown. The king learned of all that had transpired and the sad irony is read in Esther 7:10: “So they hanged Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.” On this day Ha-man became a hung-man, and for what reason? He had a problem with his thinking. Truly in the life of Haman is Solomon’s point brought to light, “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).