In the story of Esther, we can see the problem of bragging. Proverbs 27:1 Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring. [1] Haman has a history of being a braggart. Esther 5: Then Haman gathered together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 and boasted to them about his great wealth and his many children. He bragged about the honors the king had given him and how he had been promoted over all the other nobles and officials.
12 Then Haman added, “And that’s not all! Queen Esther invited only me and the king himself to the banquet she prepared for us. And she has invited me to dine with her and the king again tomorrow!”[2]
Despite all his blessings, Haman couldn’t enjoy them because Mordecai refused to bow before him. At the suggestion of his wife and friends, he built extra tall gallows to hang Mordecai the next day. But he will have to get permission from the king to do this.
Did Bragging Leak Info?
When the king accused Haman of assaulting Esther, it meant a death sentence. Esther 7:9 Then Harbona, one of the king’s eunuchs, said, “Haman has set up a sharpened pole that stands seventy-five feet tall in his own courtyard. He intended to use it to impale Mordecai, the man who saved the king from assassination.” [3]
How did Harbona know Haman intended to hang Mordecai? More than likely, Haman couldn’t contain himself while he waited to ask the king for permission to hang Mordecai. He probably bragged about it. I’m sure some eyebrows were raised when the king had Haman honor Mordecai that same morning.
Haman also intended Mordecai’s death to be very public with the exceedingly high gallows or a stake. This was probably built on top of a building or wall, so the whole town could see what Haman could do to someone who disobeyed him. Thus, this was bragging in a different way.
Focused on the Wrong Thing
Haman had focused on power, wealth, and control. Yet, these were all temporary. He had greatly underestimated the power of God.
Psalm 49: 5 Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me? 6 They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. 7 Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God…16 So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich and their homes become ever more splendid. 17 For when they die, they take nothing with them. Their wealth will not follow them into the grave. [4] All we have is from God, and we are mere stewards of it on this earth. Thus, if we brag, we should brag about what God has done. The Apostle Paul gives us his example. Galatians 6: 14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.[5] To learn about the problem of bragging, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/reversal-of-fortunes
[1-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.