Shame

"Afterward Mordecai returned to the palace gate, but Haman hurried home dejected and completely humiliated.

When Haman told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends what had happened, his wise advisers and his wife said, “Since Mordecai—this man who has humiliated you—is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him.”

While they were still talking, the king’s eunuchs arrived and quickly took Haman to the banquet Esther had prepared." Esther 6:12 - 14

So Mordecai, who had been honoured in the highest way imaginable, just returned to his normal duties at the palace gate. He did not assume that he was now elevated to position of court favourite or that other honours would come his way. Indeed, he must have been surprised to have had his deeds recognised after such a long gap.

And Haman is hugely embarrassed. He doesn't even get much consolation from his family and friends, apart from advice to recognize the inevitable: that he won't win against Mordecai. They now recognise the power of God, Yahweh, the God of the Jews. This is confirmed by the 'wise advisers' - the Magi.  (And I wonder: the wise men from 'the East', were they also from Persia, and had they also studied and learned about the God of the captured Jews? Did they know the lineage of the king they were seeking?)

And now, events start to happen at speed: Haman has not had time to even reconcile events in his mind, let alone get over his disappointment, before he is summoned 'quickly' to Esther's second banquet...

Perhaps, even now, he is plotting a way to elevate himself and get Mordecai ignored and safely relegated to obscurity before the edict to annihilate the Jews comes into force. Or is he afraid that the king will realise Mordecai is a Jew and have the order cancelled because Mordecai's service has been recognised and honoured? Perhaps he thinks the king won't even care. 

Or is there dread in Haman's heart on hearing the words of his 'wise advisers' that his plans are doomed to fail: that the God whom Mordecai worships is bent on saving the Jews, his people? Yahweh has said: "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt." Is Haman's pride still carrying him, or have cracks begun to appear in the flimsy foundations on which he has built his life?