Haman is humiliated

The Book of Esther Chapter 6

The night before Esther's banquet, the king had trouble sleeping. He ordered a historical record of his kingdom so it could be read to hm. In those records he discovered how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king's private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate the king and now the king wanted to know if Mordecai was ever rewarded for his deed.

When his attendants said Mordecai had never received any reward, the king asked who was in the outer court. Haman had just arrived in the outer court and was about to ask the king to hang Mordecai from the gallows he had prepared. The king had Haman brought before him and asked him how a king should honor a man who truly pleased him. Haman thought the king must be referring to himself and replied that such a man should be robed in the king's own robes and be given the king's own horse decked out with the royal emblem, then the king's princes should lead such a man through the streets.


The king thought Haman's suggestions were excellent and ordered these things done for Mordecai the Jew. So Haman took the robe and put it on Mordecai, placed him on the king's own horse and led him through the square shouting to the people that this was how the king honored Mordecai. Afterward, Haman went home dejected and humiliated. And he told his wife and friends what had happened. They indicated that Haman would never succeed in plans against Mordecai, and while they talked, the king's eunuchs came to take Haman to Esther's banquet.


BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Haman had wealth, but he craved respect. Respect was something he could not buy and his lust for popularity had become an obsession. Mordecai, however, had exposed a plot to assassinate Xerxes (2: 21-23) and his deed had gone unrewarded. But God was saving his reward for just the right time.


HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Why do you suppose the king was unable to sleep and wanted to have the history read to him? Yes, God saved it for this particular time, because he is always at work. This was sovereign intervention. Just like he is at work in our lives too. But sometimes we don't see him working quietly and patiently. He intervenes for us on a daily basis though we seldom see his work except in hindsight. Like Mordecai, God will reward our good deeds, but we must be patient!


Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother whose cancer has returned and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for the soul of Cindy Sullivan who passed away this week.
Pray for my cousin Diane who had total mastectomy surgery for breast cancer.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.