A Time For Such As This

From The Desk of a Geek: 

A Time For Such As This 

The book of Esther has a huge caution for anyone with feelings of hatred towards others.

There is much that can be discussed and learned from reading the Old Testament Book of Esther.

Often times we take away from it lessons of courage, faith, and God’s sovereignty. But what about the story’s villain, Haman?

Looking from Esther’s perspective, we see a story of triumph and God’s control. From Haman’s perspective, we see the sad consequences of what happens to someone when they’ve become so consumed with hatred and prejudice.

Haman is introduced in the third chapter of Esther after he has been promoted to a ranking so high that everyone in the land must pay homage to him and bow.

The trouble begins when Haman sees Mordecai, a follower of God, refusing to bow down...

“When Haman saw that Mordecai was

not bowing down or paying him homage, he was filled with rage. And when he learned of Mordecai’s ethnic identity, it seemed repugnant to Haman to do away with Mordecai alone. He planned to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout Ahasuerus’s kingdom.” – Esther 3:5-6

Haman didn’t just want Mordecai dead. In his rage, he wanted the entire Jewish race slaughtered. And when Haman's wife, Zeresh, suggests he builds a gallows to execute Mordecai, it says that this delighted him.

Haman made a plan to execute Moredcai, but in the end it backfired spectacularly.

First, Mordecai's plot was uncovered. Second, he was forced to honor his enemey Mordecai publicly. And finally, the king ordered that Haman be hanged on the very gallows he built to execute Mordecai.

In fact, not only did Haman’s hatred get himself killed, but his family suffered as a result too.

God's Word is full of warnings for those who act like Haman.

 In the book of Micah, the prophet condemns those who plot evil, and God says they will be repayed for their hatred: “I am now planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.” 

So how are we to live instead?

The Great Commandment, given by the Jesus, states that we are to love God and our neighbor.

And we are also told that every one of us will have to face Jesus someday and be held accountable for what we’ve done. 

Now it may be easy to think this doesn’t apply to us so much because we’re not as evil as Haman was.

But we need to remember that God knows our hearts. He knows our unkind and unloving thoughts.

Personally, I’ve had to ask myself several times if I am doing my best to love everyone, just as Christ called me to. 

Often times I have to confess my sin and repent. I have to ask God if there’s any favoritism or pride that is holding me back from Him.

Even if there’s just one person out in public, church, or my job that I hate, that is disobeying what Jesus instructs me.

All it took was Haman hating just one person, and look how that turned out.

Let's thank God for His salvation that covers our sin and changes our hearts, and look to individuals like Esther and Mordecai for inspiring faith and courage. 

But let us also remember Haman, and the sad truth of what blind hatred can do to a person.

Lonnie