Esther 5:9 Then went Haman forth joyful and with a glad heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
Haman had just come joyfully from a banquet with the king and queen Esther, so he was in a good mood. But then he saw Mordecai, who did not show him respect. His response to the perceived slight was indignation. This root of bitterness grew and took over his soul that he had a gallows built for Mordecai. Hatred leads to murder unless it is weeded out.
Hatred and bitterness are like weeds with long roots that grow in the heart and corrupt all of life. Hebrews 12:15 warns us to watch out “that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” We don’t let bitterness build in the heart, or it will end up backfiring against you, as it did for Haman, who ended up hanged on the gallows prepared for Mordecai.
Our Christian response to hatred and bitterness is to pray the Lord’s Prayer, “forgiving those who trespass against us.” In the rough and tumble of daily relationships, bitterness may easily spring up. We weed it out quickly by forgiving one another.