Expect Death At The Birth Of The King

So when we look at our King get carried in the arms of his father and mother into Egypt - it may not appear that he is the Powerful One. When we see innocent children get slaughtered, it may not seem that God is in charge. I would have to believe however that these children were circumcised children of God - since they were born of David’s line, and their parents were also amazed at the message of the Savior. (Luke 2:18) I would have no problem with believing that these children too had faith, just like John the Baptist, in their Savior, and ended up in heaven. Yet ultimately, I have to admit that I don’t always have an answer for why God allowed things to happen - and even predicted that they would happen. But I do know that God works his power through weakness. So why should I doubt that the same didn’t happen here?

When the United States went to war with Iraq, we sought Saddam and his family - dead or alive. When Uday and Qusay were killed, we celebrated. Why? Because they were heirs to the throne. Even if Saddam were captured, his sons would have been thought of as the next heirs. If we wanted to rule their country, the family of Saddam had to be captured or killed. That’s what happens in war. You can only have one king. So sometimes people die.

Herod went after the Son of God, proclaimed war on Jesus, for he believed that baby had come to take His throne. He wanted to kill this baby. If Herod had succeeded, our salvation would be lost. Jesus came to live a perfect life and die on a cross for our sins. If he had died at one to two years old, who could say that he fulfilled the law in our place? Who could say that he really died for us, if he wasn’t crucified? But the good news is that Herod’s plans were foiled. Even though the other children were slaughtered, Jesus lived - and our salvation remained in tact - just as God predicted it would. In the end, God proved His power - and kept his promise of salvation. Herod, in the meantime, died and ended up in hell.

Satan is still chasing God’s children, and putting some to death. His Herods are on the march yet today - on the warpath - seeking whom they may devour. Expect it to happen. Like the mothers of the innocents - it brings us sorrow when we suffer in this sinful world. But in spite of the death, we still have peace - because we know that Jesus lived on - to die for us - just as God predicted. Amen.