The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Esther 5:11-13,
"Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 'And that's not all,' Haman added. 'I'm the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate.'"
That rotten sinful nature that we all have in common since the fall of mankind is an ugly thing. It prompts us to both view things in a distorted way and to act in ways that are destructive.
This passage follows the account of how Queen Esther's cousin, Mordecai, outraged one of the king's officials, Haman, by refusing to bow to him. Haman, in an overwhelming fit of anger and hostility arranged not only for the death of Mordecai, but also all of Mordecai's people, the remnant of Jews still living after Babylon destroyed Jerusalem.
Haman's hateful hostility is on full display here as he recounts how wonderful life has gone for him, yet, in his great and arrogant hate for Mordecai and his people, he has "no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate."
The sinful nature, while certainly prominent in Haman's life and yet exists within us all, is described by the apostle Paul this way, "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21.
However, in the midst of our sinful condition, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for our sins to make eternal life possible for any one of us. All he asks is that we place our faith in him.
When we do, just look at what the Holy Spirit will bring into our lives, "... love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23.
"Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 'And that's not all,' Haman added. 'I'm the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate.'"
That rotten sinful nature that we all have in common since the fall of mankind is an ugly thing. It prompts us to both view things in a distorted way and to act in ways that are destructive.
This passage follows the account of how Queen Esther's cousin, Mordecai, outraged one of the king's officials, Haman, by refusing to bow to him. Haman, in an overwhelming fit of anger and hostility arranged not only for the death of Mordecai, but also all of Mordecai's people, the remnant of Jews still living after Babylon destroyed Jerusalem.
Haman's hateful hostility is on full display here as he recounts how wonderful life has gone for him, yet, in his great and arrogant hate for Mordecai and his people, he has "no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate."
The sinful nature, while certainly prominent in Haman's life and yet exists within us all, is described by the apostle Paul this way, "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21.
However, in the midst of our sinful condition, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for our sins to make eternal life possible for any one of us. All he asks is that we place our faith in him.
When we do, just look at what the Holy Spirit will bring into our lives, "... love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23.
What a difference that looks like than what Haman displayed!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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