It’s the day after Christmas. Gifts have been given and presents have been opened. Just because Christmas is over doesn’t mean the story of Jesus ends. Many of us have been following along the Advent series of The Christmas story. Last week we discovered how King Herod was at work behind the scenes trying to stop God’s divine plan. His plan was actually Satan's attempt to destroy Jesus. This week we find out how God provided a way to escape the plans of the evil one.
It all started with the Magi, the wisemen who were following a star that predicted the birth of Jesus, the king of the Jews. Even though the Magi were Gentiles, they went to seek Him in Jerusalem the Jewish capital city so they could worship Him (Matthew 2:2). But after meeting with the chief priests and teachers they discovered baby Jesus wasn’t in Jerusalem but born in Bethlehem.
When King Herod heard of the news of a possible king being born, he was upset. He called upon the Magi to tell them “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him” (Matthew 2:7). What the Magi didn’t know was Herod was an evil man and never had any intentions to worship the new king.
The Magi were overjoyed when they finally met baby Jesus and Mary. They brought them gifts and bowed and worshipped Him (Matthew 2:10-11). In their rejoicing, Satan was at work behind the scenes creating a plot to have baby Jesus killed.
I love how God intervenes to protect His will and plan. How did baby Jesus escape from the evil plan of the devil?
3 Ways God Intervened:
- God warned the Maggi about Herod’s evil plan. The Magi decided not to return to Herod but back to their country by another route (Matthew 2:12). Herod learned he had been outwitted by the Magi, that he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under (Matthew 2:16).
- God sent an angel to appear to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him” (Matthew 2:13). So Joseph and Mary left with baby Jesus to Egypt until the death of Herod.
- After Herod died God sent another angel in a dream to Joseph telling him it was safe to head back to Israel (Matthew 2:19).
God knew Satan was using Herod to stop one of God’s greatest plans ever, but God is bigger.
God provided a way to escape from the plans of the evil one. His merciful hands had it under control the entire time.
Satan will always be at work trying to prevent God’s plans from happening. Whatever your circumstances are please know, if God is able to provide Mary, Joseph and Jesus an escape from Satan’s evil plans then God is able to do the same for you. God loves you.
When we trust in God’s plans for us, He will always provide an escape for us protecting us from the plans of the evil one.
“The only temptations that you have are the temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to stand it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 ICB).
This concludes the Advent series. Thank you for following along! Join us next year as we have some exciting new posts that you will enjoy! Enjoy your families and know you are loved!
This concludes the Advent series. Thank you for following along! Join us next year as we have some exciting new posts that you will enjoy! Enjoy your families and know you are loved!
In Him,
Heather
No comments:
Post a Comment