7 Good Lessons From 7 Bad Bible Characters [Pt. 5: Haman]

Today we will now move on to part 5 of our 7-part series: “7 Good Lessons From 7 Bad Bible Characters.” In case you’ve just joined in on our journey of learning different spiritual lessons from the flaws and mistakes of the Bible’s worst characters, you may catch up on the whole series by clicking HERE.

But for those who have been reading through this series up until this point, get ready to dive into three good lessons from the main antagonist of the book of Esther: HAMAN!

Who Was Haman?

In Esther chapter 3 verse 1, we find one thing that gives us a clue to Haman’s backstory:

After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him
(Esther 3:1, emphasis added)

So, Haman was the son of a man who’s identified (based on the above text) as an “Agagite.”

Who in the world is an Agagite?

According to the Study Notes section of my Andrews Study Bible, the term “Agagite” likely refers to King Agag, who was the king of the Amalekites.

Who were the Amalekites?

To put it simply:

THEY WERE LONG TIME ENEMIES OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE

So, just like what we learned about Jezebel’s background o f having been raised in a Baal-worshiping home, and it ended up shaping her core identity, so with Haman. He himself must’ve likely grown up in a home that permeated with hostility against the Jews, and it shaped his core identity.

And we see the results of this core identity shaping play out throughout the book of Esther.

Lesson #1: Haman Wanted Honor

In Esther 3:5. we see the first lesson from Haman’s story:

When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath.

(Esther 3:5, emphasis added)

What does that word “wrath” mean?

In Hebrew, the word for “wrath” is chemah (חֵמָה). It means “burning anger; poison.”

How does this apply to us?

Haman’s heart was POISONED with burning anger when Mordecai didn’t show him any honor by bowing to him.

But what about us?

When people don’t show us honor or recognition for what we do or say–whether it’s at church, at school, at home, at work, wherever–do we allow our hearts to be POISONED by NEGATIVE FEELINGS? Maybe, like Haman, we allow our hearts to be poisoned with burning anger.
Or perhaps with the poison of jealousy.
Or the poison of sadness.
Or maybe we allow our hearts to be poisoned with discouragement.

Friend, Paul wrote in the book of Colossians that we shouldn’t be copying this trait that Haman had, and allow ourselves to be poisoned with negative emotions. Check out what Paul wrote below in Colossians 3:

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

(Colossians 3:17)

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

(Colossians 3:23)

What we do and say isn’t about boosting our ego or making ourselves look and sound “Christian.” It’s about God, His glory, and His gospel message being proclaimed to all.

Lesson #2: Haman Had Mood Swings

Dropping down to Esther 5, we see another flaw we can learn from Haman’s life:

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.

(Esther 5:9)

Here in the above verse, we see Haman all happy when Esther just invites him and the king to her banquet. But the minute he sees Mordecai, he allows the sight of Mordecai to poison and destroy the joyful happiness in him.

And how many of us as Christians in our modern, 21st century lives do the same exact thing?

I mean, consider these 3 beautiful factors we as Christians get to fully experience:

• We’ve been blessed beyond measure by God & His loving care
• God has bestowed upon each of us the light of His mercy and grace
• We’re joyfully walking in the whole light of His gospel truth and salvation

Yet, do we act like Haman and allow the joyful happiness in our hearts as God’s children become POISONED and DESTROYED by one or all three of the following:

• We see someone we dislike (similar to what happened to Haman)
• A trial hits
• Someone insults us

And honestly, the list goes on and on! How many of us allow the joyful happiness we as Christians have the blessed privilege to experience in our hearts and souls to be POISONED AND WRECKED by feelings of anger, sadness, doubt, or discouragement? Are you or I acting like Haman and allowing our FEELINGS to CONTROL US rather than FAITH? Are we allowing our emotions to dominate us and our desires instead of allowing God to be in control?

Consider these 2 Bible verses:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

(James 1:2-4)

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Lesson #3: Haman Planted The Wrong Field

For the third and final lesson from Haman’s flaw-filled life, we will focus in on Esther 7, verses 9 to 10:

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)

Because Haman was planting the poisonous seeds of pride, anger, selfish desire, and wrath in himself, he harvested the ultimate consequence:

DEATH

How does this apply to us?

Many years after the events of the book of Esther took place, Paul wrote these words to the church in Galatia (just to let you know, the following verse is from a modern translation):

If you plant in the field of your natural desires, from it you will gather the harvest of death; if you plant in the field of the Spirit, from the Spirit you will gather the harvest of eternal life.

(Galatians 6:8 GNT)

Just like Haman planted and cultivated the field of his pride and emotional desires, and harvested the weeds of death, the same exact thing could happen to US!

So friend, which field are you planting and cultivating? The field of positive spiritual character development? Or–like Haman–are you planting and cultivating the field of your selfish desires?

A Prayer To Hang Away Your Haman Heart

Dear reader, if you feel convicted that you’ve been acting like Haman in some way, based on either one or two or all three of the lessons listed above, I wanna appeal to you to just pray:

Amen! Maranatha!

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Stay tuned for part 6 of this series on “7 Good Lessons From 7 Bad Bible Characters,” where we’ll explore several lessons from the story of Belshazzar!
{***UPDATE: You can now read Part 6 by clicking HERE***}