ABOUT HAMAN

0. About Haman

a) The most arrogant people are often those who must measure their self-worth by the power or influence they think they have over others. Haman was extremely arrogant leader. He recognized the king as his superior, but could not accept anyone as an equal. When one man, Mordecai, refused to bow in submission to him, Haman wanted to destroy him. He became consumed with hatred for Mordecai. He was already filled with racial hatred for all Jewish people because of the long-standing hatred between the Jews and Haman's ancestors, the Amalekites. Mordecai's dedication to God and his refusal to give homage to any human person challenged Haman's self-centered religion. Haman saw the Jews as a threat to his power, and he decided to kill them all.

b) God was preparing Haman's downfall and the protection of his people long before Haman came to power under Ahasuerus. Esther, a Jew, became queen, and Mordecai's role in exposing an assassination plot indebted the king to him. Not only was Haman prevented from killing Mordecai, he also had to suffer the humiliation of publicly honoring him. Within hours, Haman died on the gallows he had built to hang Mordecai, and his plan to wipe ou the Jews was thwarted. In contrast to Esther, who risked everything for God and won, Haman risked everything for an evil purpose and lost.

c) Our initial response to the story about Haman is to say that he got what he deserved. But the Bible leads us to ask deeper questions: "How much of Haman is in me?" "Do I desire to control others?" "Am I threatened when others don't appreciate me as I think they should?" "Do I want revenge when my pride is attacked?" Confess these attitudes to God, and ask him to replace them with an attitude of forgiveness. Otherwise, God's justice will settle the matter.

1. What were his strengths and accomplishments?

a) Achieved great power, second in rank to Persia's King Ahasuerus.

2. What were his weaknesses and mistakes?

a) The desire to control others and receive honor was his highest goal.

b) Was blinded by arrogance and  self-importance.

c) Planned to murder Mordecai and built a gallows for him.

d) Orchestrated the plan to slaughter God's people throughout the empire.

3. What can we learn from his life?

a) Hatred will be punished.

b) God has an amazing record for making evil plans backfire on the planners.

c) Pride and self-importance will be punished.

d) An insatiable thirst for power and prestige is self-destructive.

4. What are the key verses?

a) ⁵ When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. ⁶ Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. (Esther 3:5-6 NIV)

b) Haman's story is told in the book of Esther.