25 Days of Advent: Forged for our Hope – Day 15

It is difficult to flip through the television channels or surf the internet without being bombarded by images, pictures, and words detailing horrific circumstances filled with sadness. An even greater disturbance is how desensitized we have become to the images, yet our souls react with fear and anger.

The massacre of innocent souls is not a new occurrence in human history. For thousands of years wars have been fought and weapons used to slaughter for reasons rooted in evil.

Pride.
Anger.
Lust.
Greed.
Fear.

Since the moment the human heart turned from all that good and pure, disobeying God and believing a lie, the human heart has had great difficulty turning back to all that is good and pure, trusting God, and believing the truth. So God would send a Messiah who’s own life would be spared during a massacre and slaughter commissioned by a king who reacted in pride, anger, lust, greed, and fear.

Jeremiah 31:15, This is what the Lord says:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,
mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”

Herod the Great was the Roman-appointed king of the Jews in Judea. Herod was known as a madman and evil genius who would commit any crime to secure his position and power. He was given word by the Magi, the three kings who were guided by a star in the East in search of Jesus, that a new king had been born among the Jewish people. Herod sent these kings to Bethlehem to find the child, requesting word from the kings when they had found this so-called king and baby.

When the Magi had finally found Jesus he was slightly grown with Biblical scholars estimating him to be closer to two years of age. When they presented their gifts to the child, an angel appeared warning the kings not alert Herod, urging them to return home another way from how they came. And then, in a dream, Joseph encountered the Lord and was told to take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt for safety.

King Herod ordered a great massacre of every male child two years of age and under in Bethlehem and all surrounding areas. Every child was slaughtered by the hands of Herod’s men. Fathers wounded and beaten by the hands of soldiers for trying to protect their children. Mothers weeping. The sounds of mourning piercing the cool night air.

Jeremiah’s words from the Lord had come to pass:

Matthew 2:16-18, 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 had 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.”

Though the coming Messiah would still have to endure a massacre of another nature, His life was spared for a greater purpose that needed to be fulfilled. A purpose so great it means life and death for both you and I at this time in our history.

We are forged for our hope when we can see the truth that we have been spared for a greater purpose that we may not see. And Christ desires to spare each and every one of us from an eternity of pain with an enemy who desires to massacre our very soul and spirit. Though we may not understand the destruction that is happening around us, and we sometimes feel crippled in fear, God’s plan will prevail.

The good works He has planned for us are not random. The gifts and abilities we have been given are not for nothing. We were not born into a time of history, and in a place within the world, by accident. These details were set long before we were born with a purpose and a plan. If we submit unto the Messiah who came for us, who was spared for us, then died for us, we too may live in hope fulfilling the purpose of our life.

Father, I praise you and give you thanks for sparing my life for your purpose. Help me to each day submit my life unto your throne, allowing your Spirit to guide me. Save me from an enemy who desires to slaughter my soul crippling me from completing your works. In Jesus name, amen.