December 16 Daily Discovery
December 16 Daily Discovery
Read Esther Chapter 6
Forcing a Fool
In his pride, Haman had set himself against the godly man Mordecai. Mordecai, the Jew, had refused to bow before him and Haman's wife suggested a devilish plot to have Mordecai hanged. In so doing, Haman literally hung himself.
Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. ~ Proverbs 27:22
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. ~ Proverbs 26:3
Fools only do what they should when they are forced.
A fool despises and rejects God and His Word. Haman was a fool. God is going to force him to do something that he does not want to do.
The Cat's Meow
So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
~ Esther 6:6
We are cautioned by Paul to NOT think more highly of ourselves than we should.
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
~ Romans 12:3
Haman had recently been promoted by the king. He was set above ALL of the other princes in the kingdom.
When the king asked Haman, "what should I do for a man that I delight to honor", Haman KNEW that the king MUST be speaking of him, and Haman was envious of recognition so he offered his suggestion to the king.
The problem was that God was wanting to honor Haman's #1 enemy. He was Haman's enemy because Haman had determined so. Mordecai was not out to hurt Haman, he was only being faithful to God.
All the people had been required to bow to Haman in an idolatrous way, and of course, Mordecai, being a faithful Jew refused.
Haman was determined to destroy ALL of the Jews. (Esther 3:6-7)
God's Deliverance
Haman was preparing to get his revenge on Mordecai, and at his wife's suggestion had a gallows made just for Mordecai. (Esther 5:13-14)
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
~ Proverbs 26:27
This proverb reminds me of a cartoon I watched as a child called The Roadrunner Show. Every episode had the same plot. Every episode had the same end.
The coyote was trying to catch the roadrunner and he ALWAYS got caught in the trap that he had set for the roadrunner!
A common trick was the coyoted rolling a large stone down a mountainside at the roadrunner just at the right time, which would for some reason NEVER hit its intended target and ALWAYS return upon his own head.
We should remember that God said "vengence is mine"! NEVER seek to take God's place and seek revenge upon another.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
~ Romans 12:19-20
"Heaping coals of fire upon his head" refers to giving him coals that he could take home to warm himself, NOT setting his head on fire!
Jesus taught us the same - to love our enemies and do good to them.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
~ Matthew 5:43-45
How did this story end?
Haman was hanged on the gallows he made for Mordecai.
Do good to your enemies and leave the vengeance where it belongs; with God.
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