Consumed by the Seat (Part 1)

Scripture — Esther 3:1-6 (NRSV)

After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite and advanced him and set his seat above all the officials who were with him.** **And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or do obeisance. Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” When they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or do obeisance to him, Haman was infuriated. But he thought it beneath him to kill only Mordecai. So, having been told who Mordecai’s people were, Haman plotted to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

Devotion

What consumes you? There is some genre of music and some lyrics that move me toward joy or bring me to tears. Jazz reminds me to let the syncopation of life stay, find the groove—and if the beat drops out, the notes still linger. The words that are sung, “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal,” prompt a broader view of the context than immediate loss. However, some moments consume us with frustration. It isn’t easy to lead effectively when we are consumed with anger or frustration.

I am curious about what consumed Haman practically. In Esther 3:1, it might be the title. Titles are inherently dangerous because they are under the umbrella of privilege. And while privilege can be good, it also brings the hauntings of the fall into forgetfulness. A title or a position continues after a person. David was reminded that the title of “king” and the kingdom would continue long after he was gone. Haman might have begun to think that he was the “seat” instead of sitting in one.

Esther 3:2 hints that perhaps Haman forgot that reverence should be reserved for those who can handle it. Angels told John not to bow (Rev. 19:10; 22:8). Jesus pointed to the Father (John 5:19; 6:38; 8:38; 14:28). Mary, Zechariah, Esther, and others sat in great seats, and they all treasured the gifts and asked, “Why me?” in their way. But there is no record of Haman balking at the bowing of other servants.

3:3 hints that perhaps Haman forgot that image bearers have volition and convictions, and thus, he is not sovereign. While the law prescribed that everyone should bow, Haman did not see that human law is not timeless and is fallible. He led without asking, “Is it possible for my neighbor to love me without bowing?” He led without asking, “Do I lose any dignity, responsibility, or status if someone isn’t bowing to me?” And one has to wonder if his job description included the posture of people at the gate.

We can only assume. However, we can conclude that for any leader, we must recognize what consumes us. Desires for titles could lead to the seat consuming a leader. Reverent consumption can lead to the need for “amens” and likes. And an appetite for sovereignty can lead to a hyperfocus on details that are not a leader’s priority; and those details are often perceived as a threat and something to be handled.

Haman reminds leaders of the potential blind spots and provides a reminder that there is always room for improvement. Haman’s servants are at the gate, revering him.  But the Son of Man goes outside the gate not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Esther’s First Impression Changed the World.