Don't Let Yourself Be Hammanized!

Sin can bring a disgusting flavor to a conversation. We have all had it happen. Typically you are listening intently and then you hear something that doesn’t ring true. Your spirit just doesn’t accept what is being conveyed in the conversation or that is what happens when you are fortunate; on the other side of the coin you get “hammanized”.

“Hammanization” is when you are led down a conversational path that leaves out the true intent of the one delivering the message. Actually the entire intent of the conversation is to get you where they want you to be without them having to reveal their true motives. Typically in this process the “hammanizer” will develop a story that will be accepting to the person being “hammanized” because the real motive would obviously be self serving.

Let’s take the Biblical example from where I have drawn the terms, “hammanized”, “hammanization” and “hammanizer”.  You won’t find them in your dictionary but after reading this passage you will be much more cautious as a listener.

Esther 3:8 (NASB95) Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not in the king’s interest to let them remain.

Haman’s message was one the King wanted to hear and Hamman knew just how to send it. He appealed to King Ahasuerus’ ego. There is other methods people use fairness, justice, principle, safety, morality, patriotism but the one Hamman chose was ego and it was an effective choice.

Haman's real agenda was to exterminate the Jews. King Ahasuerus fell for his story hook, line and sinker. Haman was an Agagite (Esther 3:1) and as an Agagite he had been taught to hate the Jews and Mordecai enflamed every ounce of hatred in Haman’s body (Esther 3:2).

The Agagites were named after King Agag and Amalekite who was spared by King Saul apart from God’s direction. Samuel put King Agag to death later (1Samuel 15:33). The story of how the Jews were supposed to exterminate the Amalekites had been passed down from generation to generation and fueled a hatred towards the Jews.

There is often a Hamman who wants you to hear their distorted message so you can accomplish the deed they don’t have the courage to state. Always be careful when someone makes a passionate appeal to one of your passions or your ego. It could be an attempt to see you “Hammanized”.

Esther only has ten chapters. I encourage you to take the time to read the entire book.