Bible Reading: Esther 3; 4:8b; 5:6-10; 6:6-11; 7:1-6, 9b-10 (Esther, supporting)

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1 HONESTY* is choosing to be truthful in whatever you say and do. HAMAN Bible Reading: Esther 3; 4:8b; 5:6-10; 6:6-11; 7:1-6, 9b-10 (Esther, supporting) MEMORY VERSE Keep me from cheating and telling lies. Be kind to me and teach me your law. Psalm 119:29 (NIrV) WEEK 4 Haman was feeling pretty good as he left the palace. After all, the King had recently promoted him to the position of most important official in the land. He swaggered through the palace, pleased to see everyone bowing low as he passed just as the King had commanded. There had been a lot of upheaval in the palace recently. In fact, King Xerxes had thrown out his previous queen and held a beauty contest to choose a replacement. The new queen, Esther, was young and unknown. But Haman figured it could only help him to make friends with her. She ll see how important I am, Haman told himself. Just like everyone else does! But as Haman reached the palace gates, he saw a man standing tall instead of bowing low. Haman was furious. He turned to the officials who followed him. Who is that man? Why won t he bow? He s supposed to bow. I want him to bow to me! His name is Mordecai, and he s one of those Jews, an official explained, bowing low. King Nebuchadnezzar took them captive. They live all over the kingdom now. 1

2 I want Mordecai dead, Haman pouted. No I want all the Jews taken out! Haman hatched a terrible plot against Mordecai and the Jewish people, and took it to King Xerxes. There are these awful people who live among us in the land! Haman told him. So? bellowed the King. What about them? Haman chose his words carefully. The Jews hadn t actually done anything wrong, but Haman would have to make it sound like they were trouble. They do things differently. They don t follow your laws. That doesn t sound good, acknowledged the King. It s dangerous for you to let them live! claimed Haman. Then he convinced the King to sign a special law. It said that on a certain day, the people throughout the kingdom of Persia were to kill every single one of the Jews. Haman hatched a terrible plot against Mordecai and the Jewish people... Ha. That ll show Mordecai! Haman told himself. Haman thought his plan was perfect. But he was missing one small piece of information. Esther, the new queen he wanted to impress, was Mordecai s cousin. She was a Jew, too! When Mordecai saw the horrible new law, he grieved deeply; he even wore black clothes to show his sadness. Esther sent one of her servants to find out what was wrong with him. Mordecai said to the servant, Show this law to Esther. Tell her to go to the King and beg for mercy for our people! No one could see the King unless he sent for them. Some people had even been killed for entering into the King s throne room uninvited. But Esther knew she must speak with him right away. So she risked her life to enter the throne room. When she entered, the King received her warmly! 2

3 What is it Queen Esther? What do you want? I ll give it to you. I ll even give you up to half of my kingdom! the King exclaimed. Esther nearly went limp with relief. She quickly found her voice: Please come to a dinner with me today. Bring Haman with you. Haman was delighted when he heard the news. The Queen thinks I m big stuff! he boasted. At dinner that evening with Haman, the King asked Esther once again what she wanted. I ll give you anything. Up to half the kingdom! Please, Esther said. I d like you and Haman to come tomorrow to the big dinner I ll prepare for you. Then I ll answer your question. Haman left the meal full of good food, and even more full of himself. He made sure everyone around him heard the news. Well, well. The Queen has invited me to dinner again! What is it Queen Esther? What do you want? I ll give it to you. But as Haman passed through the palace gates he noticed Mordecai, sitting there as usual. And Mordecai didn t stand to honor Haman. Ooooooo! Haman fumed. That... that... that just burst my bubble. Haman was so enraged he made plans to kill Mordecai without waiting for the King s law to take effect! After that, he slept well. The next day started off even better. When Haman arrived at the palace, the King begged for his advice. There s a man I want to honor. What should I do for him? 3

4 Haman grinned. Surely the King wanted to reward him Haman! Haman imagined all the amazing ways that he would like to be honored. Dress him in one of your royal robes, he told the King, and place a royal crest on his head. Have a noble lead him through the streets on one of your horses and shout out: This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor! Perfect! King Xerxes declared. Haman waited for the King to order his other officials to bring out the royal robes and crest for himself. But once again, Haman was missing an important piece of the story. The King didn t plan to honor Haman. He wanted to honor a man who had earlier stopped a plot to kill him: Mordecai! Do everything you ve suggested, boomed the King. Do it for Mordecai. Haman imagined all the amazing ways that he would like to be honored. For Mordecai?! Haman squeaked in disbelief. He was utterly humiliated. Instead of harming Mordecai, he was forced to parade Mordecai through the streets in the King s robes. The only thing that got him through the day was the knowledge that the Queen had invited him to dinner once again. But even this festive meal didn t turn out as Haman expected. Once again, the King asked what Esther wanted. I ll give you anything. Up to half my kingdom! Esther took a deep breath. Please spare my people, she pleaded. That s my appeal to you. My people and I have been sold to be destroyed. Enraged, the King cried out. Who is the man who has dared to do such a thing? Haman tensed to run, but it was too late. Esther turned and pointed right at him. Our enemy the evil Haman! 4

5 I didn t mean anything by it! Haman protested. But King Xerxes called in his guards and ordered them to put Haman to death to put him to death the way he had planned to kill Mordecai. Nooo! Haman pleaded. It s not my fault! I didn t do anything! Haman had twisted the truth, trying to wipe out Mordecai and the Jews. But now he himself was taken out and killed by the King s men. The King wrote a new law that allowed the Jews to defend themselves. Despite Haman s lies, Queen Esther, Mordecai and their people were saved. Let's Talk Haman s lie was big, and he hurt himself in big ways. Your lies probably don t have consequences that big, but that doesn t mean you won t get hurt especially if you keep lying to cover it up. Together, find some yarn or string. Now, kids, hold one end of the string. Parents, wrap the string around your kid once. This is kind of what happens when you tell a lie. You start to get tangled up. But it doesn t seem too bad at first. Now, parents, loop that yarn around again. And a few more times. Kids, every time you tell another lie, or stretch the truth a little further, you get a little more tangled up. Pretty soon, you re in knots with no idea how to get out! You ve got yourself in a world of hurt. But, here s the good news. Parents, hand your kid a pair of scissors. (Or use them yourself if they re too knotted up.) Now make a few snips... and you re free! That s what telling the truth does. It sets you loose from those painful knots instantly! You may still have consequences to deal with, but you don t have to hide anymore. You re free! Talk to God together and ask Him to give you the courage to use scissors and tell the truth anytime you find yourself knotted up in untruths. Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL READER S VERSION Copyright 1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved The rethink Group, Inc. All rights reserved.