How Could God Allow This To Happen? Series

Series: Out Of Your Mind [#3]

HOW COULD GOD ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN?

Matthew 2:1-23

Introduction:

I come to you this morning with a heavy heart. Last Sunday afternoon, I found out about the Torres family accident. While I didn’t know the parents and oldest daughter well; we all knew or knew of Luis and Demaris. Mom called me Sunday after talking to Pastor Lozano. As she told me of the accident and about Luis being the only survivor; my eyes begin to fill with tears and my heart began to sink. I knew I needed to call those who were involved with Luis and Demaris at Church; but I couldn’t. I had to wait until I could pull it together and then I started making some calls.

On Friday, Mom, dad, and I went to the funeral. There were moments during the service that were in Spanish only and I just sat and thought about this family. As I did this, I thought about what I had heard over and over, “How could God allow this to happen”? This is a question that I cannot answer. This is a question that has been asked through the ages.

Matthew 2:1-8

God uses circumstances to…

1. Get your attention.

As we have seen in this story, God sometimes uses what’s going on to shake us up- To get us out of our comfort zone. God got many people’s attention in this story.

God sometimes uses…

 Signs to get your attention.

The Magi were doing their thing from wherever they lived when they saw this star. God used this star to cause them to stop what they were doing and take a trip. They not only found Jesus and worshipped Him; but God also used this to shake up King Herod and the Jewish people.

God sometimes uses…

 The Word to get your attention.

The High Priest and teachers of the Law had been looking for the Messiah for years. I’m sure when they heard King Herod ask them the question, “Where is the Messiah going to be born”; they began to get excited about the possibility. They knew the answer to this question because it was found in God’s Word.

For King Herod, the Word created fear in him because he was thinking only of himself. All he knew was that this baby King was going to grow up and take his throne.

Matthew 2:9-12

God uses circumstances to…

2. Draw you to Himself.

The Magi had come a long ways to find Jesus. When they found Jesus, they were overjoyed. They worshipped Him and gave Him gifts. After that, they were warned in a dream to not go back to Herod.

It is important for us to notice that when we are focused on God, we will be able to hear Him. True worship of Jesus Christ changes us and gives us a desire to be like Him.

Matthew 2:13-18

God uses circumstances to…

3. Fulfill His purpose.

This is where this sermon gets very difficult for me. In order for Jesus to be protected from King Herod, God had Joseph take them to Egypt. But, what about all of the other 2 year old and under boys in and around Bethlehem? Every single little boy from that town was killed. How in the world could God allow that to happen? I don’t know; but it was part of God’s plan.

Matthew 2:19-23

Conclusion:

The story ends just like Scripture says it would. What we need to see is that God is sovereign and He knows what He is doing. As horrible as this accident and deaths are, God can still use that for His glory and honor. There is an encouraging part of this- They are all in Heaven.