Read Esther 7:1-10

“So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai…” (Esther 7:10)

This verse is the most ironic and satisfying event in the Book of Esther — perhaps even in the entire Word of God.

Haman was an evil Agagite under the king who secretly plotted a complete genocide against the Jewish people within the Persian Kingdom. Not only that, but he had a personal vendetta against Mordecai, the adopted father of Esther, because Mordecai refused to bow down to him. At the climax of Haman’s pride and arrogance, we discover Haman building gallows in his backyard for the single purpose of hanging Mordecai on it (see Esther 5:12-14).

It takes a truly sick man to enjoy murdering someone out of jealously; but it takes a particularly wicked demon to enjoy it from your own backyard. Not to mention, Haman’s wife and friends were the ones who suggested it.

But in the end, Haman’s plot was discovered by the king, and as God would have it, Haman was executed by being hung on his own gallows which he made for Mordecai.

“Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, “Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king’s behalf, is standing at the house of Haman.” Then the king said, “Hang him on it!” So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.” (Esther 7:9–10)

One cannot help but relish in the vindication and the justice of the moment. Sin will find you out and it may even hang you on your own gallows!

This kind of vindicating justice is ever present throughout the book of Psalms concerning those who plan wickedness. In King David’s words:

“For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, Which they have dug without cause for my life. Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, And let his net that he has hidden catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall.” (Psalm 35:7–8)

And in the words of King Solomon:

“A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.” (Proverbs 18:7)

All throughout Scriptures we see that those who plot evil do so in vain, for in the end they will be trapped by their own snares and judged with the instruments of their own doings. Sin has a way to slaying its own.

“His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin.” (Proverbs 5:22)

Goliath’s head was severed by his own weapon (see 1 Samuel 17:51), and King Saul fell by his own sword (see 1 Samuel 31:4). Absalom was left hanging by his own hair (2 Samuel 18:9), and wicked Jezebel was thrown from her own royal window (see 2 Kings 9:30-33). It was the mighty men who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego into the fiery furnance that were consumed by it’s heat (see Daniel 3:22), and it was the men who tried to kill Daniel in the lion’s den that were consumed head to toe by those lions (see Daniel 6:24).

Over and over again the words of the prophet Samuel ring true:

“…take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23)

May we as God’s people not be those who are consumed by our own sin. We must not live in it any longer, and we certainly must not hide it from the Lord — as if that were possible.

“Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.” (Ephesians 5:11–12)

We must remember that sin has been defeated by Christ’s blood, and it has lost its authority to reign over our lives. We have been given dominion over it by the Holy Spirit. We have been forgiven of it by our Advocate, Jesus Christ the Righteous. We have been set free from it because of the work of the cross. There is no record of it on our account because of the resurrection. So live in it no longer, Christian, but cast it off!

“Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19)

“How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:2)

Do we have the Holy Spirit within us only to continue to act like those who do not? The Christian life is meant to be one of victory and power over sin, not one succumbed to it. If there is sin your life today, cast it before the feet of Jesus and be restored by His forgiveness. Serve the Lord with a good conscience today, and trust in the power of His Spirit to live in the holiness He has called you into. Freedom, joy, and the abundant life is waiting.

“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” (Ephesians 5:1–4)

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