As a child, the story of Esther was one of my favorites in the Bible. What girl wouldn’t like the story of a common Jew who quickly gets promoted to queenhood, winning the favor of prominent people? One of the best parts of the story, though, features Haman.

I love the part where he comes in to have a meeting with the king in order to request permission to have Mordecai hanged on the gallows Haman built just for that purpose. Before he can state his purpose for coming to the palace, King Ahasuerus asks him, “What shall be done for the man that the king delights to honor?”

Haman, being conceited, thinks, Who would the king delight to honor more than me? So he says, “Let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!'”

The king immediately replies, “Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king’s gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken.”

I bet the look on Haman’s face was priceless at that moment. How it must have grated him and yet he had been given his orders. He must honor the person he hated the most.

Proverbs 16:18 tell us that “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

This is what happened to Haman. He became so proud, blinded by his position and his hatred for Mordecai and, therefore, all Jews, that he ended up losing everything that he held dear, including his life, on the very gallows he had built for the man that he hated.

There will always be people who rub you the wrong way, people who hate you, people who would like to see you fail. Just keep pressing on, doing what God has called you to do. Don’t seek vengeance or retaliation. God will take care of that on your behalf.

It’s easy to lose focus in this spiritual race but fight to keep your eyes on the goal. Everything else is a distraction. God resists the proud, but a broken and contrite spirit, He will not despise (Psalm 51:17).

God bless you all. Have a great week thanking God for His amazing love.