Christmas Foretold and Fulfilled - Opposition Opportunities - Stand Tall by God's Presence

When Israel was a youth I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. Hosea 1:1
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet.” …. Now when they (magi) had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” So, Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night and left for Egypt. He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the Magi. Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.” But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead.” So, Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. Matthew 2:1-5, 13-21
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him (Jesus) out of the city and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went His way. Luke 4:28-30
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25

Today's thoughts from today's verses:

Today we look at the details of what HYou may have noticed that verses 6-12 of Matthew 2 were not included above. In this part the Magi have a further interaction with King Herod where he says to them, “Go and search carefully for the child; and when you have found him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship him.” Next there is a description of their journey to Bethlehem and their visit with Jesus. It then concludes with these words, “And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.” It is after this that our highlighted portion above picks up. An obvious interval of time had occurred that was long enough for Herod to conclude that he had been tricked by the magi. What follows is truly diabolical: The killing of “all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under.”

Certainly, these were very extreme measures, but why? The historical record of Herod (known as Herod the Great) is rather comprehensive. It is known that he was extremely paranoid. He was quite ill and near the end of his long reign with many individuals vying for his throne. He was very successful at maintaining a peaceful balance in the relationship between Rome and Israel. He was certainly aware of the Messianic expectations of the Jewish people. So, word from the magi of one “born King of the Jews” was doubly troubling to Herod. The birth of Christ is viewed by Herod as a threat to his throne as well as a threat to the peaceful balance between Rome and Israel that he had accomplished.

Earlier in the week it was said that we can be sure that Satan is the one behind all opposition to Jesus and that Herod is truly an instrument of evil in his hands. Yes, the killing of innocent children is truly diabolical. The stakes are much higher for Satan than for Herod. Satan must destroy the Messiah, or his rebellious and evil existence will be in vain. Wonderfully, the attempt to find Jesus through the magi and kill him outright did not succeed. And of course, the purpose for the tragic killing of all male children two years and under in Bethlehem and its vicinity did not succeed because Jesus was not there but rather safe in Egypt.

Tomorrow we will consider the fact that Herod was removed from the scene through death. Similarly, it will also come about someday that Satan will be removed from the scene and the presence of evil will be eliminated forever. In the interim we know that Christ lives in us through the person of the Holy Spirit and the words: “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world,” are our banner of victory in the midst of this troubled world. The Lord Jesus Christ can keep us from stumbling and someday we will stand blameless in His glorious presence.

Today's prayer response from today's thoughts:

Lord, thank you for the life you have called me to. Giving thanks is a real stretch for me considering how soft I tend to be and how readily I want out from under tough experiences. I am learning to see your touch in all my experiences and to feel your strength within me holding me up and helping me stand tall. What a privilege it is to serve you with my life and to see you at work in such amazing ways. Amen!

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