Our next practical lesson from Esther is this:

4. WHEN YOU HATE SOMEONE, THEY OWN YOU.
Esther 5:9-13:

"So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. Moreover Haman said, 'Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.'"

It would seem that it is a short fall from the peaks of joy to the depths of depression! Haman was on top, so to speak, but not content. But why? One man, Mordecai, was "ruining" his satisfaction. Mordecai had done nothing wrong, but Haman despised him so much that he could think of nothing else! Rather than plotting how to destroy Mordecai, Haman would have been better served counting his blessings and expressing gratitude to the true and living God. Hatred often harms the hater more than the hated.

5. IT IS EASY TO EXPECT THE WORST FROM THOSE WE CONSIDER EVIL.
Esther 7:8 - "When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, 'Will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?' As the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face."

The king's wrath was aroused before seeing Haman "fallen across the couch where Esther was", but this did not help matters. The king now expected the worst from this wicked man. Once we judge a person to be evil (whether fairly or unfairly), it is hard to be gracious.

6. YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW.
Esther 7:9,10 - "Now Harbonah, one of the king's 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."

This reminds me of several Bible passages:

• Proverbs 26:27 - "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him."
• Ecclesiastes 10:8 - "He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent."
• Galatians 6:7,8 - "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life."

Haman and Mordecai both got what they deserved, destruction and honor, respectively (cf. Esther 10:3).