Don't Miss Christmas! ...Continued from page 1

Kay Arthur

How foolish for Herod to think that he could fight against God-that he could stop events decreed from the eternal throne of the Sovereign Ruler of all the universe! After all, this birth was planned from before the foundation of the world. Matthew tells us:After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. Now when they 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."  

But when Herod died. . . .
(Matthew 2:9-13,19)

 

What a profound lesson! When the magi and the king wanted to find the Jews' Messiah, the chief priests and the scribes were able to tell them exactly where He was-the city of His birth had been chiseled forever into the granite of God's Word.

Does it amaze you that Herod didn't want to accompany them to see this One who had been born? It amazed me, until I recalled from Ecclesiastes that "there is nothing new under the sun." Some people don't want truth unless there's something in it for them.

If this Child the magi sought was really the King of the Jews, He would become a menace to Herod-a threat, not a hope! To preserve his status, Herod had to silence any truth-this Truth! So he made plans. He spoke to the magi secretly. He lied about wanting to worship the Messiah. He schemed to destroy the One prophesied to be the true king of the Jews.

Herod missed Christmas, and worse-he actually attempted to destroy it! Because he thought life was "all about him," he was jealous for his own glory and incredibly suspicious of others. Though old and sick, he would do everything necessary to squelch would-be usurpers of his kingdom. He would die for an earthly throne before embracing Eternal Life...who was just a short journey away.

H

ow incredibly tragic...and violent! Herod's cup of iniquity overflowed with the blood of any who threatened him, not just his enemies. Family members, friends, politicians-even Miriam, the wife he adored-were all killed because of his suspicions. The Savior of the world had been born, and Herod not only refused to worship Him but also added to his sins the most notorious of his crimes-the slaughter of all male children two years and under in Bethlehem, just to eliminate the possibility of future competition (Matthew 2:16-18).