Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

At home, Haman gathered his family and friends and began to boast about his importance to the king and how he was now the chief officer.  'Except for the king, I was the only one invited to the queen's banquet,' he bragged.  'And tomorrow, I'm invited to another banquet the queen is putting on.  Just me and the king!'  

Then Haman's face darkened as he remembered Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.  He told his wife and friends how angry he was.

'Build a gallows and ask the king to order that Mordecai be hanged on it,' his wife and friends said.  Haman thought that was a great idea, so he had somebody build the gallows - 50 feet high, just outside Haman's front door.

That night, the king could not sleep.  He ordered a servant to read to him from the history records.  What do you think the servant read?  That's right!  He read about Mordecai's report which had saved the king's life.  'What reward did Mordecai receive?' the king asked.  There was no record of any reward.  By now it was morning.  Haman arrived in the court.  'Bring him here,' the king said.  'I'll ask him what should be done for the man whom the king wants to honor.'

Prayer:  Dear Lord, please keep me from being proud and haughty.  Amen.