GATE OF PROMOTION
Esther 5, 6

Promotion gained should never be a termination in the making. When pride sets into play, however, promotion becomes a preparation to a permanent destruction. This was the case of Haman after being promoted by King Ahasuerus in the book of Esther. It is recorded that after Haman gained promotion, the entire king’s servant within the king’s gate were to pay homage to him. While he was passing through the gate, “…Mordecai would not bow or pay homage.”(Esther 3:2) Mordecai’s action was enough for Haman to be filled with wrath. By this virtue, Haman sought to terminate not just Mordecai but all the people of Mordecai. Haman’s plot grew wider and more relentless against Mordecai’s people. Just as Haman continued to ride on his favorable position with King Ahasuerus; so his shoulder continued to rise above his head. Once he was coming out of the king’s palace, through the same gate, “…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) This time around, Haman sought the counsel of his wife and friends on what to do to Mordecai. “Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet.” And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made.”(Esther 5:14)Is your favorable promotion setting you up in a pride that could lead to a permanent destruction? A night before Haman’s plan gets to the king for execution, God moved on behalf of Mordecai. “That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 Then the king said, “What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.””(Esther 6:1-3) Haman was in the process of coming to present the king his plan of humiliation and destruction for Mordecai. God, however, in His highness, turned around Haman’s plan and Mordecai could not be the victim but rather the victorious. The Bible says, “Afterward Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.” (Esther 6:12-13) The same gate where Haman had been passing through with pride now turned to be a gate of shame for Haman to pass through. God is not asleep; do not allow your gate of promotion to become a gate of termination.

Prayer for today: Father, pride is a killer. I ask let me not be a victim of pride but rather cause me to live life in humility.