Journey Through The Scriptures

The Life of Esther

Lesson 4: Haman Is Exposed and Executed

(Scripture to Read: Esther 6:1–7:10)

A sleepless night on the part of King Ahasuerus became a dramatic turning point in the story of Esther. The king ordered his servants to read to him from his royal record, where he discovered that Mordecai had never been rewarded for exposing an assassination plot. Ahasuerus was determined to use any court official who was available to honor Mordecai. In God’s providence, that official was Haman, who was coming to ask permission to hang Mordecai.

When the king asked Haman what should be done to honor a deserving man, Haman arrogantly assumed he was the honoree, and described a lavish ceremony to honor the man the king had in mind. Haman had to do this for Mordecai, but the shame Haman felt at this humiliation was nothing compared to the doom that awaited him. On the second day of Esther’s banquet, the Jews’ enemy met his fate as Ahasuerus demanded to know who wanted to harm her and her people. Haman pled for his life, but this only angered the king more.

Haman was led away to die on the gallows he had built for Mordecai – a vivid reminder of God’s promise to curse those who curse the people of Abraham (Genesis 12:3).

Study Questions

  1. Haman got himself into trouble because he had let his anger take control of him. What lessons can we learn from his poor example?
  2. Why do you think God arranged for Mordecai to be publicly honored by his worst enemy in the Persian capital of Susa?
  3. When Haman rushed home from his humiliating experience and told his wife what had happened, what fact told her that her husband was doomed?
  4. As far as we know, this was the first time Ahasuerus realized that Esther was a Jew. How did this knowledge change his former attitude toward the Jews (see 3:10-11)?

Something to Think About

The Bible says, "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth" (Proverbs 27:2). This principle is dramatically illustrated in the life of Haman.

You may believe you deserve praise, or even a raise, for a job well done. But the wisest thing to do may be to allow God to bring you that recognition in His time and way.

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