Esther
Part 4
"Hoisted On Their Own Petard"
The conflict between wicked Haman and godly Mordecai presents another episode in the book of Esther where we see God overcoming and supplanting the flesh with the spirit.
"After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath"(Esther 3:1-5).
Haman cherished his exalted role as the king's most honored subject. He loved the power, honor, and even reverence that came with the position. Mordecai, however, did not acknowledge Haman's place, thus eliciting the evil man's ire. Moreover, Mordecai himself was worthy of honor because he had saved the king's life on a previous occasion, unbeknownst to the king. Thus, as with Vashti the rebellious queen replaced by Esther, the story progresses to the destruction of Haman and the installation of Mordecai as the king's most rightly honored subject. Indeed, Haman ends up not only replaced, but executed.
"So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai" (Esther 7:10).
I am not ashamed to admit this is one of my favorite verses in Scripture. It vividly proclaims the truth that God's enemies, including Satan himself, always hoist themselves upon their own petard, to borrow from Shakespeare. "They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves" (Psalm 57:6). Our foes are allowed by God to challenge us and even hurt us. As with the Psalmist, our souls may be bowed down. However, they cannot defeat us so long as walk with the risen Captain of our salvation. As we trust the Lord Jesus Christ, our enemies end up falling into the pits they dug for us. Or, hanging on the gallows they built for us. Or, being bludgeoned by the cross that temporarily impaled our Savior, but will forevermore herald His victory. Let Haman do what he will. Mordecai will win. He will be raised up in honor as the enemy is raised upon the gallows. God Himself sees to that, and in this hour when perhaps he allows the wicked to do what they will. But a little while, and they will fall or they will hang. The cross is empty, the Heavenly throne is occupied, and Jesus Christ is Lord. This is our hope and assurance. Yes, Haman always ends us hanging on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai.
"And though they found no cause of death in Him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, they took Him down from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre. But God raised Him from the dead."
(Acts 13:28-30)
Weekly Memory Verse
Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)
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