"Brief Devotions For Busy Lives" By Rev. Dr. Mary B. Johnson: Matt. 2:16-18

 January 9

"When Herod saw the wise men had tricked him, he became furious. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys two years old and younger in or near Bethlehem. This matched the exact time he had learned from the wise men. Then the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah came true: 'A sound was heard in Ramah, the sound of crying in bitter grief. Rachel was crying for her children. She refused to be comforted because they were dead.'" -Matt. 2:16-18 (GW)

Evil is a reality we all must deal with. The horror of massacres and tragedies occupy our headlines and fill the evening news. School shootings of small children are among the most grievous. Yet it was no different in ancient times. Matthew reports King Herod killed all Jewish boys in Bethlehem under two in an obsessive attempt to eliminate Jesus, the newborn king. We can only imagine the grief and fear their families experienced at such a brutal loss. Matthew quotes from Jeremiah 31:15 to convey the grief that had also occurred centuries ago when the northern tribes, were taken into captivity by the Assyrians. Rachel is pictured crying for the exiles at Ramah, a staging point of deportation. Rachel was the mother of Israel. From Rachel's 12 sons emerged the 12 tribes of Israel. Rachel was buried near Bethlehem. She is quoted to describe the grief of Bethlehem's mothers when their own male children were murdered. Weeping was great in both times. These words are still full of mourning and grief today assuring us God hasn't forgotten cries of the innocent or grief of the bereaved.

Yet although Herod stained his hands with blood, he wasn't able to harm Jesus. Herod was king by human design. Jesus was King by divine appointment! No one can thwart God's plans. Herod totally missed the reason for Christ's birth. Jesus didn't want Herod's throne. He wanted to be king of Herod's life. God wanted to give Herod eternal life, not take away his crown. Unfortunately many people today still fear Jesus wants to take things away. In reality, he wants to give all people real freedom, peace, and joy. Don't fear Christ. If you give him the throne of your life today, then Christ can guarantee you security in God's eternal Kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, Protect me from the evils of this world. Amen.

Meditation For The Day: God sees & hears our grief and weeping.

Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Winter Renewal Paperback – November 25, 2017, by Rev. Dr. Mary Johnson (Author)