Hanging on to grudges, and grudges hanging you

I have read the book of Esther numerous times, but I have never seen this before.  I always thought Haman was just this arrogant guy who thought that everyone should think he was wonderful.

After listening this morning to Insight for Living podcast, I learned something new about this story of Haman.

AFTER THESE things, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and did reverence to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or do him reverence. Then the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mordecai, Why do you transgress the king's command? Now when they spoke to him day after day and he paid no attention to them, they told Haman to see whether Mordecai's conduct would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or do him reverence, he was very angry. But he scorned laying hands only on Mordecai. So since they had told him Mordecai's nationality, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
Esther 3:1‭-‬6 AMPC

A couple of things stood out to me.

1. In the midst of his surroundings, Mordecai did not give up on his convictions.

We live in a really wicked world where we are constantly bombarded by things that go against the Word of God.   We cannot bow to this world.

2.  Haman becamee furious only after learning that Mordecai was a Jew.

Now let's go back to Haman for a moment here.  Why did Haman dislike the Jews so much?  Well we can find the answer from centuries earlier.

Then Samuel said, Bring here to me Agag king of the Amalekites. And Agag came to him cheerfully. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past. Samuel said, As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.
1 Samuel 15:32‭-‬33 AMPC

Haman was a decendent of this evil King.  The fact that the Jews had put this king to death and that story was passed down from generation to generation.  Here stands Haman and he sees all these Jews and it enrages him that one in particular won't bow down to him, he decides to wipe them all out.

The end of the story is that Haman is hanged on his own gallows that he prepared for Mordecai.

A couple of things,

1.  If you have a grudge against one of God's children, you are destined for destruction.  God always takes care of His children.

2.  If you hold a grudge against someone it will affect the next generations.

Thank you Lord for showing me that it is not wise to hold grudges but to give them to you.  Help me today to let all of my hurts and pains that others have caused me to be given to you.  Your word says, "Vengence is mine saith the Lord, I will repay." I stand upon your promises today.