Scripture: “When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:” – Matthew 2:14
Observation: Joseph was instructed by God to take Mary and the baby Jesus to Egypt in order to escape Herod’s mandate to kill all babies two years old and younger. The tyrant did this to eradicate any threat to his own throne from the birth of the “King of the Jews” of whom the magi spoke. This was the fulfillment of a prophecy made by the “weeping prophet” six centuries earlier.
Application: Approximately 600 years before the birth of Christ, Jeremiah was inspired by God to write these words, “Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.” (Jeremiah 31:15). The Old Testament connection most likely refers to the nation mourning its Babylonian captivity, however, there is also a New Testament prophetic connection.
Matthew tells us that Jeremiah is also prophetically writing in regard to the lamenting of the mothers whose babies would be slain. “Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” (Matthew 2:17-18). The fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy was twofold foretelling the weeping in Judea from the slaughter of the babies and the great sorrow experienced when God’s children were forced into captivity under Nebuchadnezzar.
God’s plan of salvation for all mankind necessitated a “once-and-for-all” sacrifice that only His Son could complete. God knew He would need to protect Jesus centuries before the actual physical threat arose as Satan had been consistently trying to thwart God’s plan to reconcile mankind to Himself since Eden. God’s plan for Jesus could not and would not be stopped by Satan.
This is the same for you and me. As we go through life, we face struggles that shake our faith and threaten to draw us away from God, but He walks with us through every heartache, every hardship, every sorrow and upholds us with His mighty hand. God promises in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy in God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” With God by our side, we will emerge from the tunnel of despair victorious and moving forward in His plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 states, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” We can have sweet peace regardless of the circumstances when we walk with God.
Remember, we all began as a thought in the mind of God, and from that moment, He had a plan for each one of us. No matter how much Satan wants to pull us away from that plan, if we have trusted Christ as our Saviour, we are held firmly in the hand of God. Jesus affirmed that in John 10:29, “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” Like a gift wrapped in beautiful paper, we are wrapped up in the mighty and loving hand of God! That is a reason to rejoice this Christmas season!
Prayer: Father God, how wonderful to know that I am held securely in Your hand! Such blessed assurance to know that whatever I face in this life, I do not face alone because You are with me. Even when I feel alone, I am not. You have promised to never leave me, and You have promised to do a good work in me! I am so blessed to be Your child! The best Christmas present I ever received was Jesus! It truly is the gift that keeps on giving! Thank You for Your great love! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
I heard the bells on Christmas day, their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat of peace of earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come, the belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th'unbroken song of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head: "There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men."
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men."
Till, ringing, singing on its way, the world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, of peace on earth, good will to men.
(from “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Henry W. Longfellow)
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“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” – Psalm 5:11