We Reap What We Sow
So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther's banquet, and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, "Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted."
Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life -- this is my petition. And spare my people -- this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would have justified disturbing the king."
King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, "Who is he? Where is he -- the man who has dared to do such a thing?"
Esther said, "An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!"
Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.
Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.
The king exclaimed, "Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?"
As soon as the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, "A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman's house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king."
The king said, "Impale him on it!" So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king's fury subsided. Esther 7:1-10.
Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life -- this is my petition. And spare my people -- this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would have justified disturbing the king."
King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, "Who is he? Where is he -- the man who has dared to do such a thing?"
Esther said, "An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!"
Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.
Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.
The king exclaimed, "Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?"
As soon as the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, "A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman's house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king."
The king said, "Impale him on it!" So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king's fury subsided. Esther 7:1-10.
There are at least two lessons that we can apply to our lives from this portion of the Esther Story.
First: When man exalts you, man can bring you down, but when God exalts you, God will sustain you.
Haman's rise to fame, wealth and honor was solely the doing of King Xerxes. He had risen in rank and honor at the pleasure of the king. As long as the king was pleased with him, his position remained secure, but when the king felt displeased with him, he longer had a place of honor. The king saw through his wickedness and ordered his death.
This behavior is part of the human landscape. We see people who endear themselves to the powerful for the sole purpose of receiving honor and recognition. But it is only a matter of time before they fall out of favor with the powers that be and their lives are totally destroyed. When man exalts you, man can bring you down because you serve at the pleasure of man.
On the contrary, when God exalts you, no man can bring you down because God will sustain you. Mordecai and Esther were exalted and honored by God therefore no amount of human intrigue and conniving on the part of Haman could bring them down.
Second: We reap what we sow. This is, perhaps, one of the most overlooked spiritual principles in life. But it is also one of the most important! Scripture says in Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Haman had a pole erected to impale Mordecai, only to end up being impaled on it himself.
It is simply amazing how we fail to think of the effect of our wicked acts on the lives and families of those we seek to destroy. Our lies, gossips, attacks, slanders and various acts of wickedness toward others can eventually come to ruin our own lives. That is what Haman experienced. He reaped what he had been sowing toward Mordecai and the Jews. He reaped shame and death!
Would you take a moment to truly examine your life and repent of any wicked deeds? Remember that God cannot be mocked, we reap what we sow.
First: When man exalts you, man can bring you down, but when God exalts you, God will sustain you.
Haman's rise to fame, wealth and honor was solely the doing of King Xerxes. He had risen in rank and honor at the pleasure of the king. As long as the king was pleased with him, his position remained secure, but when the king felt displeased with him, he longer had a place of honor. The king saw through his wickedness and ordered his death.
This behavior is part of the human landscape. We see people who endear themselves to the powerful for the sole purpose of receiving honor and recognition. But it is only a matter of time before they fall out of favor with the powers that be and their lives are totally destroyed. When man exalts you, man can bring you down because you serve at the pleasure of man.
On the contrary, when God exalts you, no man can bring you down because God will sustain you. Mordecai and Esther were exalted and honored by God therefore no amount of human intrigue and conniving on the part of Haman could bring them down.
Second: We reap what we sow. This is, perhaps, one of the most overlooked spiritual principles in life. But it is also one of the most important! Scripture says in Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." Haman had a pole erected to impale Mordecai, only to end up being impaled on it himself.
It is simply amazing how we fail to think of the effect of our wicked acts on the lives and families of those we seek to destroy. Our lies, gossips, attacks, slanders and various acts of wickedness toward others can eventually come to ruin our own lives. That is what Haman experienced. He reaped what he had been sowing toward Mordecai and the Jews. He reaped shame and death!
Would you take a moment to truly examine your life and repent of any wicked deeds? Remember that God cannot be mocked, we reap what we sow.
Prayer: Father, please help me to live in purity and righteousness. Help me to repent of any form of wickedness. Amen.