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.”
There is great evil in the world. The murder here had several suspects. The immediate one was Herod. The king who was jealous with power. The maji had just come through. He lied and asked them to return his way to share what they learned about the messiah. He said he wanted to worship him as well. What’s shocking is that Herod was a jew. Here he is trying to kill the jewish messiah. To him his desires are primary over his people and even more than God’s.
Stepping back we see more finger prints on this murder scene, satan’s. His motives are the same as Herod’s. He wanted to replace God, so he instills his evil plan in Herod. He whispers in our ears and his idea becomes our ideas. He did the same to Eve. She and Adam partook and damned us all to judgement.
James 4:1-3 explains how this works, “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is the source not your pleasures that wage war in your body’s parts? You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures.” It’s our flesh. We want things and we are ok fighting for them. Here it even refers to murder. Herod fulfills this. It didn’t work, as God had Joseph flee the scene prior.
One may say, “Murder? I wouldn’t kill anyone.” Probably not, but that may be because it’s frowned upon socially. We would do plenty of other evils up to it. Jesus redefined murder in Matthew 5:21,22, “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.” If we hate our brother we are guilty of murder. It would rarely lead us to the actual deed, but according to God, we have some guilt.
The disciple of Jesus isn’t to obey these lusts. Matthew says 16:24, ‘Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.”‘ He is to be lord, not our desires. We might think they are harmless. “I’m hurting no one.” We are letting a passion take over. We aren’t letting Jesus on the throne in our lives. This is the path to murder; either theoretical or actual.
Jesus’ way put God and others first. That’s the way of love. It’s a wonderful way. It will lay down the life for others. We first have to put self to death. Either way there will be a death. Either our own flesh or another.
Jesus on the cross forgave His enemies. “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Don’t get involved in the petty back and forth. Be above it. Not in a proud way. Just forgive.
God’s way is a wonderful one. Unfortunately it’s not crowded. Jesus said in Mathew 7:14,15, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
If someone wants God, He will be found by that one. God can hear a solitary, lone voice. It doesn’t matter how far or remote it is. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
The Holy Spirit points out our sin (John 16:8). Those areas which are contrary to Him. His children follow His way and are blessed. If we allow Him He fills us with His love. We can love those whom are in competition with us. We don’t have to be angry at them. His power conquers that.
Lord, help us to die to ourselves and our selfish desires and follow You way. Thank You for showing us and empowering us to go that way.