“The Haman Principle”- As a Man Sows, So Shall He Reap!

 Bribed, Blackmailed & Brainwashed – Part 12

 By Richard Allen – May 5, 2025

As we continue this series on ”Bribed, Blackmailed and Brainwashed,” I thought it might be good to stop and reflect on current developments with “The New World Order” in general, and “America’s Deep State” in particular – since the election of Donald Trump. But in order for me to explain how profound these developments are, I think it will help if we reflect on actions and outcomes of another man from Biblical Antiquity: Haman, the Agagite!  The backdrop of Haman’s story is the 70 years of Israel’s captivity. If nothing else, this story proves the old adage of “Reaping and Sowing.”  Israel’s sin against God had reached a crescendo after hundreds of years of sowing disobedience. From approximately 740 - 722 B.C. Israel was conquered, then taken captive into Assyria. Then later, from 607 - 587 B.C., Judah too was conquered and taken captive into Babylon. Barely forty years later, Babylon itself was conquered by the Meads and Persians in approximately 549 B.C. It was during the rule of the Persian Empire that the Book of Esther chronicles the story of Esther and her older cousin Mordecai – and her marriage to Ahasuerus, also known as Artaxerxes, or just plain Xerxes. This young Jewish captive and her cousin were at the center of a Divine Drama that threatened to destroy the Jewish people. The Book of Esther narrates the reversal of fortunes and the miraculous deliverance of the Jewish people while in captivity.  And this story will allow us to reflect on God’s Providential care for His Church that’s happening in our current day!

It's likely that Esther’s husband, King Xerxes, did not know of her Jewish origin. But like most empires, the Persians had their share of palace intrigue. Mordecai was well aware of both his and Esther’s tenuous position in Persia, so Mordecai spent time each day at the palace gates, to hear word of Esther’s well-being. Most Bible scholars believe that Mordecai was most likely a public official. As a young and beautiful woman, Esther had been taken into Xerxes’ harem as a concubine, and was later made Queen by Xerxes. Note, a concubine in ancient times was a sex slave without the legal status of a wife. Prior to the Christian era, male-female relationships were really messed up. So it was natural for Mordecai, Esther’s older cousin – who had raised her after the Babylonian conquest – to be concerned about her well-being. Mordecai couldn’t really change their status as Persian captives, but he did seek to watch over Esther whenever possible. And one day at the palace gate, Mordecai overheard two of the Persian Eunuchs who guarded the entrance to Xerxes’ gate  – Bigthan and Teresh – plotting to do harm to the King. Mordecai sent a message to Esther, who made it known to the king. When the plot was discovered to be true, Bigthan and Teresh were hung on the gallows.

At this point, Haman the Agagite, a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites – is promoted to a “noble official” under Xerxes. Because Haman was an Amalekite, he harbored fierce resentment toward the Jewish people from the days of King Saul (see 1 Samuel 15:1-9). After Haman’s promotion to “prime minister,” it was required that he be honored as King Xerxes’ right hand. As he traveled the Persian capitol of Susa, everyone was to acknowledge Haman, to bow and kneel as he rode past. And everyone paid Haman homage – except Mordecai, a Jew. Haman was so enraged that he immediately plotted how to destroy Mordecai and the Jewish people. This intense hatred drove Haman to a mental illness that we should all recognize: MDS – “Mordecai Derangement Syndrome!”  We then read of Haman’s ongoing attempts to make this lowly Jew pay for not showing him homage. We might easily question: “Why would Haman, who had prestige, power, position and family, obsess over being “dissed” by a lowly Jew?” While Mordecai probably had some level of authority – probably as an “Alderman” in Susa –  he was no threat to Haman or his family.

But Haman allowed his MDS to get the best of him. Still incensed by Mordecai’s lack of respect, Haman persuaded Xerxes to pass a law that everywhere in the vast Persian Empire – everyone could attack and kill Jews and plunder their property. Haman paid a large sum of money into Xerxes’ treasury to obtain this “royal edict,” which Xerxes unwittingly decreed. Remember, neither King Xerxes nor Haman knew of Esther’s Jewish lineage.  Had Haman known, undoubtedly, he would have restrained his anger, or plotted more subtly against Mordecai. When Mordecai made Queen Esther aware of Haman’s treachery against the Jews, Esther felt compelled to approach the King – without being sent for – which could have been a death sentence in that culture. But Esther had found favor in the King’s eyes, so he bid her to enter the throne room and come to him. This ruthless Persian king’s heart had been made tender by the hand of God’s Providence, so he promises to give Esther “whatever she requests of him – to the half of his kingdom” (Esther 5:3). Realizing there was a bigger struggle going on, Esther asks that she be allowed to hold a “feast” for both Xerxes and Haman, which she was permitted to do. Haman was overjoyed at the private attention by Xerxes and his queen:

“And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.  Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh.  And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. Then Haman said, ‘Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate’ ” (Esther 5:9-13).

Haman, still seething with MDS, is then encouraged by his wife to “just have Mordecai hanged.” This sounded so good that Haman built a huge gallows on which to publicly hang this impudent Jew. It’s with this thought in mind that Haman goes to the palace to request of Xerxes that he do just that, hang Mordecai. Grasping “God’s Providential care and keeping of His people” is important for a proper understanding of this story in the Book of Esther. God is busy working both sides of this equation.  The morning Haman approaches Xerxes is the morning after the King’s sleepless night.

We also discover that Xerxes wasn’t aware of Mordecai’s faithful act in defense of the King of Persia, to reveal the threat posed by Bigthan and Teresh. Then one night when Xerxes couldn’t sleep – the King asked that “the record of memorable deeds” be brought to him. Reading that Mordecai had indeed saved him from an attempt on his life, the King wanted to know: “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him” (Esther 6:3). This revelation brings a reversal in both Mordecai’s and Haman’s fortunes. The King, anxious to bestow honor on Mordecai, asks which of his officials is present? Then Xerxes is told by his attendants:  “Haman is here, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in” (Esther 6:5).  Then the King asks Haman a fateful question: “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” (Esther 6:6). Haman, believing Xerxes is asking in reference to honoring him, suggests great honors and rewards “for the man whom the King wishes to honor.” Little did Haman know, he would be honoring Mordecai:

“And Haman said to the king, ‘For the man whom the king delights to honor, let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set. And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor’” (Esther 6:7-10). 

To Haman’s surprise, this part of the story ends with Mordecai being honored, and Haman himself leading the horse Mordecai rode throughout Susa. Haman heads home in shame and mourning, then recounts all that had happened between himself and Mordecai to his wife and friends. They do give him wise counsel, but sadly it’s far too late:

“When Haman told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends what had happened, his wise advisers and his wife said, ‘Since Mordecai – this man who has humiliated you—is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him’ ” (Esther 6:13).

But as they advise him, the King’s attendants (eunuchs) arrive at Haman’s house to take him to the second feast with King Xerxes and Queen Esther.  Haman’s MDS – "Mordecai Derangement Syndrome” had led him to do crazed things, not for the good of his King, Persia or even his own family – but just because he was eaten up with irrational hatred toward Mordecai. In Esther Chapter 7, Haman shows up and feasts with King Xerxes and Queen Esther.  When the King once again asks the Queen what is her wish of him, Esther finally requests that the King save her and her people (the Jews), as they are to be killed and plundered – all because of “this wicked Haman!”  (Esther 7:6).  Haman is terrified to learn that Esther too, is a Jew, the very people for whom he had worked to secure a decree to have them destroyed. While the king goes into his garden to call the palace guard, Haman falls on the couch where Esther is seated, begging for his life. Upon the king’s return – seeing Haman groveling on the couch next to his wife:

“And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, ‘Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?’ As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face. Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, ‘Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high.’ And the king said, ‘Hang him on that.’ So, they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated” (Esther 7:8-10).

In the next Blog of this series, we’ll briefly look at eight components of “The Haman Principle” from this Biblical account, and apply them to similar outcomes we are observing with TDS – “Trump Derangement Syndrome” in our own day.  I know that my readers are not in this group.  My prayer is for those Believers who have been deceived by “fake news” and the ten years of irrational hatred they have generated toward Donald Trump.  My hope is that those suffering from TDS will wake up and realize the Providential hand of God at work in our own day!

Soli Deo Gloria!