I Wouldn’t Touch Him with a 75 Foot Pole

His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits [about 75 feet] and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up. Esther 5:14


Fortunately for most of us, public impaling is a thing of the past. Haman was a man in need of a reality check. He had no one in his life who would tell him the truth. Apparently, his family and friends were so enamored with his power and general awesomeness that no one questioned his motives or his thoughts. It’s a dangerous place to live when others support our emotional reactions and irrational behavior. Haman was completely disconnected from reality and could no longer recognize the truth. His ill intentions for Mordecai would eventually become his own undoing.


None of us are exempt from mistakes and misunderstandings. When our voice becomes the only voice that we’re hearing, then we need to get some other inputs. When we find ourselves surrounded only by people who agree with us, we need to seek wise counsel. It’s important for all of us to have people in our lives who love us, but aren’t impressed with us. There is too much at risk to surround ourselves with people who fawn after us and think that we can do no wrong. It might be fun to seem god-like for a season, but it will soon collapse.


Who is speaking truth into your life these days? When was the last time you really talked to someone who doesn’t share your point of view? Who loves you enough to bring up the hard things? Who speaks the truth about the things that you’re blind to? If you don’t have these relationships in your life, pray that God would send someone to speak the truth in love to you (Ephesians 4:15).


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