Falling Into Their Own Pit - Esther 6-10

 Esther 6:5-11 (ESV)

5 And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” 6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” 7 And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, 8 let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set. 9 And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” 10 Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” 11 So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”

Falling Into Their Own Pit

To fully appreciate the above account of the fall of Haman and the rise of Mordecai, we have to reflect on this proverb, written by Solomon centuries prior to this incident:

Proverbs 26:27 (ESV)

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,

and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

Haman did not like Mordecai.   Haman so hated Mordecai that he arranged, by deceiving the king, to have Mordecai’s entire nation wiped out, just so he could see Mordecai hang (on gallows he built in his own back yard).  This story of Haman and Mordecai is one of the most severe examples of what happens in a conflict when bitterness arises in the heart.   Haman was bitter.   While Haman was plotting to destroy Mordecai, God was working behind the scenes (as He always does).   Mordecai, some time earlier, had actually spotted a plot to kill the king.   He informed the kings guards and the king was saved.   One night, as the king lay restless, this account of being saved by Mordecai was rehearsed in his hears.  This is where the above story takes place.   The king wished to honor Mordecai.  Haman JUST HAPPENED to be in the court yard and was selected to be the advisor of the king (what a privilege Haman thought he had), as well as the executioner of the king’s will (what humiliation Haman must have had).   God has a way of lifting up the humble and bringing down the proud.   God is sovereign over the affairs of mankind, right down to their sleep (the king could not sleep), to where they will be at a certain time (Haman in the courtyard), to promoting whom He will promote (Mordecai finally getting recognition for a job well done).   When the wicked plot against the righteous God is very much in the know and is making and fulfilling His own plot!!