KING HEROD'S MASSACRE

KING HEROD'S MASSACRE

   After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

   When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.  When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.  "In Bethlehem in Judea, "they replied, "for this is what the prophets has written:

     "'but you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

          are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

       for out of you will come a ruler

          who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.  He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child.  As soon as you find him,  report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

   After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.  Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.  And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

   When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.  "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.  Stay there until I tell you, FOR HEROD IS GOING TO SEARCH FOR THE CHILD TO KILL HIM."

   So he got up, took, the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod.  And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet:  "Out of Egypt I called my son."

   WHEN HEROD REALIZED THAT HE HAD BEEN OUTWITTED BY THE MAGI, HE WAS FURIOUS, AND HE GAVE ORDERS TO KILL ALL THE BOYS IN BETHLEHEM AND ITS VICINITY WHO WERE TWO YEARS OLD AND UNDER, in accordance with the time he learned from the Magi.  Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

       "a voice is heard in Ramah,

             weeping and great mourning,

        Rachel weeping for her children

             and refusing to be comforted,

        because they are no more."                      Matthew 2:  1 - 18   (NIV)

There are two things I want to point out to you tonight from these passages:  1) ...Herod is going to search for the child...  God knows all things past, present, and future.

2)  All the boy children two years old and younger were sentenced to death by their government.  God knew this before it happened.  God allowed it to happen to accomplish His plan.

   God knew about the young man in Connecticut from the time before he was born.  He knew what he would do before he was allowed to do it. 

   God knew about Columbine, where Rachael Scott attended.

  

   Let us get on our knees and worship God for His love and mercy.  Let us pray for comfort for the families of the children and the adults. Let us give thanks for the relationships in our lives that bring us so much joy.  Let us pray for a major revival in this nation to honor God.

 Do you know God's love?  Have you accepted His forgiveness for your own sins?  Please visit the "plan to salvation" page.  God doesn't want any to perish, but to have everlasting life.

You are also invited to visit with Oma at http://omaslife.blogspot.com and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.