Haman arrived at Queen Esther's banquet with King Xerxes. While they were drinking wine, King Xerxes asked Esther about her request, "Tell me what you want, Queen Esther. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!" Queen Esther replied and asked for her life and her people to be spared, for they had been sold to those who would kill, slaughter, and annihilate them. King Xerxes was very surprised and asked who would do such a thing against her. Queen Esther then pointed to Haman. Haman suddenly grew pale with fright before King Xerxes and Queen Esther. King Xerxes was enraged, got up, and went out to the garden. Haman knew that the King would order to kill him, so he tried to beg Queen Esther for his life, but he fell on the couch where Esther was sitting, and it happened that the King came back and thought that he was assaulting his Queen. Haman ended up being empaled to the pole he had set up for Mordecai (Esther 7:1-10).
Haman was an example of being consumed with pride and revenge. None of these would happen to him if he wasn't prideful. Haman demanded respect and honor. He prides himself on all his accomplishments, influence, and favor from King Xerxes. Haman had it all, but he wasn't satisfied because his pride could only be completed if he could avenge his people against the Jews. And so he plotted to annihilate all the Jews. However, he didn't realize that the Queen was a Jew. Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall."
As children of God, God demanded us to live in humbleness. Humbleness means not living with a prideful attitude but with respect for others and gratitude. Not looking down on anyone else but appreciating others and always being thankful for what God provided and not greedy. Let us examine and protect our hearts from pride.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully and meditate on the questions while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you) How does God want me to live my life? Why do I need to protect my mind and heart from pride? What are the consequences of being prideful?
Write down all your worries today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for reminding me today of the consequences of being prideful. Please protect my heart from pride and help me to live in humbleness so that I may walk in your ways and be a blessing to others. Also, please protect my heart from being vengeful. Please help me to forgive just as you have forgiven me of my sins. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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