February 22 End the Destruction

Esther 3:1-2, 5-6 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage…5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.
 
IT is said that Adolph Hitler’s hatred for the Jews began when he as a boy was displeased by their appearance. How could such a frivolous and preferential dislike cause the deaths of millions?
     The same seems true of Haman. Who was this man who could so easily turn an insult into a great anger against an entire people group? Haman’s ascent to power produced a great self-centered pride. Haman is as his king. He is easily angered beyond reason. When insulted by one Jew, Haman responded with hateful malice toward all Jews. Why would he do such a thing?
     We can go back to King Ahasuerus’ angry response to his wife, Queen Vashti. Perhaps Haman was watching the king’s reaction then to her insult of the king’s request. Maybe he learned from the king that he could display his power with a large, unreasonable act of revenge. Possibly he thought, “I can be even more angry than the king. I can do more harm to more people.”
     This is sin’s cancerous affects. Read in Genesis of the early years of human history. Adam’s sin of eating forbidden fruit led to Cain’s murder of Abel. Cain’s murder led to a man named Lamech who said this in Genesis 4:23-24 “Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. 24 If Cain’s revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech’s is seventy-sevenfold.”
     Lamech took pride in his murderous heart. Genesis 5-6 record mankind’s downfall from there into even greater sin. In response, God judged mankind with the Great Flood to cleanse the earth. One sin is never one sin. There is always one more. Deeper and deeper it penetrates into one’s heart to kill and destroy. 
     Is there something in your family line that is the root of pain, hurt and grief from one generation to another? You can stop it. In the power of the Holy Spirit, call on the Lord Jesus to intercede. Pray for the Spirit’s power to fill you and strengthen you. Pray you will be his agent to bring righteousness to your family.
     Pray for your family to be redeemed. Pray that God’s right ways will beget more of God’s right ways.
 
Prayer: Lord God, deliver me from any sinful intent in my heart. Protect my family, my friends and my church from the evil one. In Jesus’ name, amen.