January 10
“Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more,’” Matthew 2:16-18.
When King Herod saw that he had been “made a fool of” by the Wise Men from the East, he was exceedingly angry. His anger was so intense that it could be appeased only with blood! Of course, it was really God who frustrated Herod’s ungodly plan to kill the Christ Child. The Wise Men did not return to Herod as he requested; instead, they proceeded according to God’s direction, which had been given to them in a dream.
The heathen head, King Herod, sent some men who were under his jurisdiction to kill all the male children two years old and under in the little town of Bethlehem and in the surrounding rural area. To make sure that he would kill the Lord Jesus, Herod proceeded according to the information he had obtained from the Wise Men. He had secretly called them together to find out how long ago the star in the East had appeared. Calculating on the basis of their information, and killing every male child two years old and under, Herod was sure that he would destroy the Child Jesus. However, ‘Man proposes, but God disposes!’ The heavenly Father had arranged through another dream to Joseph to take Mary and Jesus safely into Egypt.
How many little children two years old and under were snatched from their mothers’ arms and murdered before their very eyes by Herod’s merciless men? We do not know. There is no record in Holy Scripture of the number of children who were murdered. There also is no record in secular history of the number who were murdered. Those little children could be called the first Christian martyrs!
Herod’s violent rage fulfilled the words of the prophet Jeremiah, as quoted by the evangelist Matthew: “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
O, how terrible! What a disrespect for human life! What inhumane action was taken by Herod! However, let me ask a question: What shall we say today about the millions of unborn babies who are slaughtered by abortion in their mothers’ wombs in our own beloved country? And it is declared to be legal by people in government and in our courts! We might ask another question: How long will this murderous action continue before the wrath of God falls on us?
What shall we say to those who have aborted a baby? What shall we say? Humbly kneel before God, confess and repent of your sin, and fully believe and trust that, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from ALL sin!” 1 John 1:7. Jesus shed His blood on Calvary’s cross to wash away ALL our sins. There is no sin that is too great, too grievous, too vile, too vicious, or too “whatever” that it cannot be forgiven! Remember, God loves you and He sent His Son to save you! “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,” Acts 16:31. That is your heavenly Father’s promise!
By grace! Oh, mark this word of promise, when thou art by thy sins opprest,
When Satan plagues thy troubled conscience, and when thy heart is seeking rest.
What reason cannot comprehend, God, by His grace, to thee doth send.
By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying, in Jesus’ promise I rejoice;
For though I know my heart’s condition, I also know my Savior’s voice.
My heart is glad, all grief has flown, since I am saved by grace alone. Amen.