Monday 24 December, 2012

2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. This happened while Herod was king of Judea. After Jesus’ birth, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. 2 They asked, “Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw his star. Now we have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard about it, he was very upset. Everyone in Jerusalem was troubled too. 4 So Herod called together all the chief priests of the people. He also called the teachers of the law. He asked them where the Christ was going to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied. “This is what the prophet has written. He said, 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are certainly not the least important among the towns of Judah. A ruler will come out of you. He will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” (Micah 5:2) 7 Then Herod called for the Wise Men secretly. He found out from them exactly when the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem. He said, “Go! Make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, bring me a report. Then I can go and worship him too.” 9 After the Wise Men had listened to the king, they went on their way. The star they had seen when they were in the east went ahead of them. It finally stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. 11 The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, incense and myrrh.

I am struck by the way God orchestrates these events to not only protect Jesus, but fulfill his good plan. Jesus, a young child, and his parents, have no way of knowing this plot from Herod who was really wanting to kill Jesus. They had no way of def

ending or protecting themselves. They were completely vulnerable to the plot of Herod and the Jewish leaders.

Yet God

was their protector. He warned the Magi in a dream not to go back to Herod, and they obeyed the dream rather than Herod. And so Jesus and his family remained undetected. Who knows the religious views and background of these Magi. But God spoke to them in a way they understood, and they heeded his warning.

This passage reminds me of God’s goodness towards His people, and me in particular, because of His good plan and purpose for us. Romans 8:28 comes to mind. It also reminds me that God has got the big picture under control, is moving events and people into position to fulfill his good purpose (even when opposing, destructive purposes are afoot), and is orchestrating all sorts of events and people to fulfill his Gospel purpose on the earth!

Thanks God for bringing me under your good purpose, which also means your care and protection. I couldn’t be in a safer place.

Written by Ps. Rob Waugh