Matthew 2:18 - A voice was heard in
Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she
refused to be comforted, because they were no more.
When we
read the story of Christ's birth, it is full of wonder and hope. Shepherds and
wise men rejoice over the birth of the Savior. Yet, in the midst of this
glorious event, tragedy taints the most important advent the world has ever
known. Other families in Bethlehem and its environs had similarly celebrated the
joyous coming of their babies in those days. However, they soon would see their
children's lives ruthlessly taken from them. No one really knows for certain how
many. The Martyrdom of Matthew states 3,000 babies were slaughtered by the
command of Herod. The Byzantine liturgy claims more than 14,000 male children
under the age of two were massacred, while Syrian tradition places the number at
64,000! Not to diminish the horror of this event, but the number was probably
quite smaller. Biblical archaeologists believe from their findings that
Bethlehem's population on May 14, 6 AD (the date claimed by Clement for Christ's
birth) to be around 300 persons. If that is the case, then children under two
years old would probably equal less than a dozen. However, no one really knows
for sure. How far around Bethlehem did Herod's murderous edict extend? While it
is doubtful 64,000 children lost their lives, it is equally as doubtful in my
mind that just a handful of children were killed. Nevertheless, no matter the
number, a life is precious and the heartache of those whose children were taken
in such a cruel manner was no doubt heartbreaking beyond words.
As the
Christ child escaped to Egypt with His parents, we read in Matthew's gospel how
the innocents were slaughtered by a madman. Herod was one of a long line of
megalomaniacal kings in Jewish history who sought to maintain his rule at any
cost. Since he was crowned ruler of Judea by the Roman government more than 40
years earlier, he had killed scores of persons he considered a threat to his
throne. The slaughter of the innocents was merely the crowning achievement of
his murderous ways in the twilight of his reign. This man schemed and connived
his entire life to ensure his rule and that of his posterity. When he gave the
command to destroy the male babies in Bethlehem, this was nothing horrendous in
his eyes whatsoever. This was merely the last of a long series of murders to
ensure his kingdom rule.
We often
look at this event as appalling, but it was the most natural reaction of evil
for this malevolent king to perpetrate. While this unspeakable evil was done, the
Son of God was safe far to the south. Some might say, "Why did not God intervene
on behalf of the innocents while He protected the Son of God? Isn't this
hypocritical on God's part to show favoritism to His own Son, yet allow the
innocent to perish?" The same questions have been asked of God throughout the
millennia. While many believe He sits safely in the heavenlies while continual
injustice occurs here on earth, some would suggest this proves He is an unjust
God. However, those who would question God in this way do not understand He is
not only a God of mercy but one of justice. His character demands that He allow
mankind to go the way we have chosen since that fateful day in the Garden. God
told Adam and Eve that death would be the result of disobedience, yet they chose
to go their own way. Even so, we have chosen to go our own way and the result is
carnage and death on a worldwide scale. Why does God allow children to die? Why
does He allow babies in Uganda to suffer and die by the hands of cruel men and
evil regimes? Why does God allow entire communities with thousands of children
to starve to death in the Sudan? Why does He allow terrorists in Belarus to
destroy an entire orphanage of children? Because evil exists in the world and we
as a species have embraced it! The result of this prevalent evil will result in
the death and exploitation of the innocent. It always will. The problem is
compounded when we as the human race believe we are not all capable of this type
of evil.
Whether
we are saved by the Prince of Peace, or are joint-murderers with the prince of
darkness is our choice today as it was on that infamous day in Eden. We will
either join ourselves with God and look toward the day when He will once again
make everything whole. Or, we will continue to join ourselves with the devil and
blame God for all the woes of our world. The innocents will continually be the
tragic victims of our foolish decision as a race. What we need to do is put the
blame where it belongs -- on ourselves, and submit to the Christ Child who can
make it all right once again. Instead of saying, "Why" to God over the calamity
of this world, we should be praying "When will you come and set things right?"
When we look to Him for the solutions, we will understand so much more than
those without God. The evil will still be unacceptable. But we will understand
its origin and its final demise as we trust in God to one day rid the earth of
those who would prey on the innocent, much as Satan preyed on the innocent in
Eden's garden. Then, the blameless will be righteous before Him, never to be
exploited by evil again.
Holy
Father, may we understand that the innocents will always be subjected to the
worst kinds of evil. The hearts of men are given to do evil because they are
children of their father the devil. They have chosen their parentage by their
choice to follow him. There is a day, Father, when You will wipe the earth of
this plague. Then, the innocents will be continually in Your presence, never to
suffer again. May You come quickly, Lord Jesus. In Christ's Name, Amen.
Your
Barefoot Servant,
Rick
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