What do Haman and Mordecai have to do with us today in twenty-first century America? We seem to have nothing in common with those living during the latter part of 400 BC and the characters found in Esther 3. Yet, there is nothing in the Bible that isn’t relevant to life and godliness, so let’s read on and see.
Mordecai is certainly a good man, one who took on the role of parent to his niece Esther and who kept a watchful eye on her even after she became the Queen of Persia. His noble character is also displayed when he helped foil the assassination plot against King Xerxes.
Hamon enters the scene in Esther 3 and is elevated to second in command under the king. His ancestry is that of the Amalekites, mortal foes of the Jews. He appears to be a man of great pride and is easily enraged.
When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead, Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. Esther 3:5-6
The contrast between the two men is dramatic, a story of good versus evil, of hero versus arch-villain. Like many great tales of valor, the juxtaposition of these two men, add to the drama of the story. Haman, the manipulative prince is able to bend King Xerxes ear, telling half-truths, in order to destroy a people whom he has most likely been trained to hate since birth. Mordecai, however, stands on his principles and refuses to pay homage to Haman, living out what he believes, regardless of the cost.
The Lord had declared perpetual war against Amalek (Exo 17:8-16). The Book of Esther relates the last recorded battle in that war (see also 1 Sam 15:32; 1Sam 30:1-10; 1Ch 4:43).
And Amalek, as you may have seen from other studies was the grandson of Esau! (Gen 36:12) So the conflict between Jacob and Esau plays out in the conflict between Israel and Amalek and now between Mordecai and Haman! (Jesusplusnothing.com)
What then can we learn from this chapter? Merely stating, “don’t be like Haman” is a given. Don’t hate God’s chosen people, don’t become arrogant when raised to a position of authority, and don’t let rage engulf one’s life are elementary observations. Choosing to be courageous like Mordecai is great advice as well, but there is something deeper we can glean.
One author made this excellent observation about the contrasting characteristics of these two men and how it is an example of a life lived in the flesh and one lived in the Spirit. Gordan writes,
We have seen above that Haman is an Amalekite – the sworn enemy of Israel. You may remember from other studies that Amalek speaks of the flesh – that sinful self-centered old nature that we all possess. Thus, the conflict here between Haman and Mordecai gives us a glimpse of that which battles in our own hearts – the conflict between flesh and spirit. This battle may be internal and unseen to those around us, yet it is as real as the conflict that we see brewing in these first verses in Esther chapter 3. Mordecai then is a picture of the Holy Spirit who will not bow down or give any ground to Haman, the sinful old nature. The two will always be in conflict for “The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.” (Exodus 17:16)
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have thus following promise fulfilled in us.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezekiel 36:26).
Yet we also will continue to struggle as if we have a Haman and a Mordecai dwelling in us, as Paul wrote in Romans:
15 I’m a mystery to myself, for I want to do what is right, but end up doing what my moral instincts condemn. 16 And if my behavior is not in line with my desire, my conscience still confirms the excellence of the law. 17 And now I realize that it is no longer my true self doing it, but the unwelcome intruder of sin in my humanity. 18 For I know that nothing good lives within the flesh of my fallen humanity. The longings to do what is right are within me, but will-power is not enough to accomplish it. 19 My lofty desires to do what is good are dashed when I do the things I want to avoid. 20 So if my behavior contradicts my desires to do good, I must conclude that it’s not my true identity doing it, but the unwelcome intruder of sin hindering me from being who I really am.
21 Through my experience of this principle, I discover that even when I want to do good, evil is ready to sabotage me. 22 Truly, deep within my true identity, I love to do what pleases God. 23 But I discern another power operating in my humanity, waging a war against the moral principles of my conscience and bringing me into captivity as a prisoner to the “law” of sin—this unwelcome intruder in my humanity. 24 What an agonizing situation I am in! So who has the power to rescue this miserable man from the unwelcome intruder of sin and death? 25 I give all my thanks to God, for his mighty power has finally provided a way out through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! So if left to myself, the flesh is aligned with the law of sin, but now my renewed mind is fixed on and submitted to God’s righteous principles (Romans 7:15-24 The Passion Translation).
Our victory lies in the finished work of Jesus Christ and we can give thanks to Him for the power to walk in freedom from sin while finding restoration and forgiveness when we do fail. What we were, apart from Christ, is Haman, but who we are as new creations, filled with the Spirit, is like Mordecai. Be a Mordecai in twenty-first century America.