Where is God When Babies Die?

Matthew 2:13-18
¹³ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “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.”
¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵ where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”^[c]
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. ¹⁷ Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

¹⁸ “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”^[

 

The narrative of Christ's birth is obviously a popular part of scripture this time of  year.  Kids dress up and put on nativities.  Most of our houses are decorated with some sweetly sentimental item representing something from these stories.  And right smack dab in the middle of all this sweetness and joy is this horrific story.  Which, shockingly, is rarely reenacted by sunday school Christmas performances.....

 

Here is the worst part; Why did Herod get so mad he went out and slaughtered a bunch of innocent babies?  Because God had warned the Magi to avoid Herod.  Wait?! What?!  Herod's depraved behavior is a direct result of the action of God. 

 

What about you?  What horrific hurts and pains lie underneath the surface of your heart right now?  If most of our hearts were bared open for all to see, they would not be pretty to see.  And as we stand there screaming at the Heavens we all want to know....Where were  you God? 

 

We tend to have a very myopic view of life.  Our experiences and perspectives are limited to a very fine focus.  Especially in the midst of suffering.  Have you ever woken up from a particularly bad dream and it took a good 5-10 minutes of being awake to realize that what you dreamt had not happened?  As a parent those are the worst dreams.  One night I had a dream where something happened to my kids.  I woke up in a panic sweat.  Ran to their rooms.  Even after seeing them sleeping peacefully it was quite a while before my heart stopped racing.  And that whole day my body felt the strain of stress, even though my anxiety was not based on reality.

 

Expand that.  Not to downplay the severity of what you may have experienced(or are experiencing), but that finite situation can become an all consuming pain that colors the way we view our entire life.  And we turn and shout to the heavens, Where were you God?

 

This temporal existence is a never ending cycle of the good with the bad.  Sin brings devastating consequences that reverberate in all areas of creation.  And this passage beautifully illustrates that painful dichotomy.

 

As evil was being perpetuated upon children, the most beautiful and important thing that has ever occurred was happening.  Even with the backdrop of great pain, God had entered into our pained existence in the Person of His only Son, Jesus. 

 

Why did He enter in?  Because evil men slaughter babies.  Because parents abandon their children.  Because disease and disorders destroy families and shatter lives.  Because you are broken and hurting.

 

While we become bogged down with that which is immediately in front of us, the Angels cry out that the King is here, that He is on the move.  While you are crying alone again, Christ is marching up Golgotha.  While you lay in a grave that precious loved one gone to soon, Christ is being placed in the tomb.  When you cry out, God where are you, Christ is rising from Death, never to return.

 

When we keep our eyes down we miss what is happening right in front of us.  Christ is on the move.  He is not just on the move to stop Herod and save the infants of Bethlehem.  He is on the move to bring to its end all death, evil, and, pain. 

 

Do you realize that God is moving right now in the midst of your pain.  You probably don't see it if you are keeping your eyes down and being consumed by pain.  Look up! 

 

2000 years ago God set into motion His work to answer all evil and to end all death.  What He began through the birth of Jesus will continue until every tear will be wiped from your eye.  You are not alone, and you are not without hope.

 

Where is God when babies die?  Where is He when you are hurting and you feel beyond repair?  He is on the move, and will not stop until all who call on Him are rescued.

 

Here is the challenge for us;  Can we begin to live by faith, not by our eyes?  If the faith of a mustard seed can move a mountain, begin to trust that you are not alone, your King is coming for you and will not allow you to perish.  Not because of anything good in you, but because everything good in HIM!

 

 

“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

 

Who Do You Trust?

Matthew 2:7-8
⁷Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.


Herod is a liar.  We know later on in this chapter that he never had intentions of honoring and worshipping Jesus.  He wanted to kill him.  But I am sure he sounded convincing.  What he said probably made the Magi feel good and confident and they most likely had no reason to not want to come immediately back to Herod and give up the location of the baby.

What are peoples intentions with you?  Do they flatter you, while preparing their "hand" to strike.  Are they your "friend" so that they can take advantage of you?

There is not a person alive who hasn't had someone in their life just like Herod.  And most likely, most of us reading this have been Herod to people in our lives at some point.  We treat people like objects and resources to be plundered.  We are strip mined by those who claim to be our friends.  They take what is meant to be beautiful and cherished, and tear it down beyond recognition for self-centered reasons.  Needs and desires of self outweigh love, compassion and sacrifice for the good of those who are made in the image of the living God.

People will often feel bad about the consequences of pain that they give, but that doesn't stop them.  Always looking for the next opportunity to take from those too weak and vulnerable to protest and protect. 

In verse 12 the Magi avoid Herod to protect Jesus and his family.  Why?  Because God had revealed the truth of Herod's true intentions.  And, they acted accordingly.  They realized the danger of Herod, listened to God, and protected themselves and others from Herod's flattering lies.

This is the guide post for us.  God's truth.  We are incapable of really knowing the true heart of someone.  Even if you were a mind reader, the human heart is a mystery beyond our ability to comprehend.  When we become deeply rooted in God's word, His love, His truth, we are developing a protective heart barrier that will send us warning signals loud and clear.

Along with that, God speaks with power and clarity through the people of His Church.  Our we submitting our lives and hearts to the communion of God's people?  We are so susceptible to flattery, abuse, lies and more.  Who are the truth seekers in your life that will stand for truth in your life?  Who will graciously and patiently help you see what you are allowing to happen, AND, what YOU are doing yourself?

We have to make a choice to no longer be a victim.  It is not our fault that people hurt us.  But it is time for us to choose to live by faith, not by sight.  Our eyes will convince us of the validity of the lie, our faith will reveal to us the truth.  

So, who do you trust?  There is only one who is the, "same, yesterday, today, and, tomorrow" 

Who is really watching your back?

Thrones and Tombs

Matthew 2:3
"When King Herod heard this he was disturbed"

Substitute teachers were always the best.  And if they were particularly naïve(read our favorites) they didn't make you do much work and fill the period with a rousing game of Heads up 7 up.  We all knew it was temporary.  How odd would it be if they didn't make us do the work the teacher assigned and spent the whole time bad mouthing the absent teacher?  And, upon the regular teachers return they tried to lead a student coup to put them in permanent charge of the class?  That would be a substitute teacher that would be permanently out of a teaching job. 

King Herod wasn't even a real king.  He was allowed to rule whatever it was he did rule by the beneficence of Rome.  They could easily dispose him if they decided they didn't like the job he was doing. 

When the Magi come and tell him about the new born king, Herod responded by becoming disturbed.  He knew deep inside that his claim to power was shaky at best.  What if there really was some new player on the political scene that the notoriously rebellious Jews would follow?  Perhaps Rome would just give him Herod's palace to keep things on an even keel.

Guess what?  That's you.  There is a throne in your life.  And, you are sitting on it.  In your own little kingdom you are absolute ruler.  Though, in actuality, you really don't have that much power.  But at least in your little corner of the world, its all yours.

Over 2000 years ago the star appeared declaring that the King of Kings had arrived.  And just like Herod, we are disturbed.

Disturbed because Jesus makes a claim of authority upon our hearts.

Disturbed because if He really is who He claims to be, then our power really was no power at all.

Disturbed because so much of what we have been up to is not going to jive with this King.

We have been usurpers to a throne that is not ours.  We have built up our kingdoms, and constructed our walls.  But, like Herod, it is all paper. 

But there is another way to see this.  What if instead of sitting on His throne, we have been anticipating His return?  Joyfully?  When our hearts begun to long for the real King of our lives, it is a celebration of freedom when He returns. 

Have you ever babysat?  It can be fun, especially before you have kids.  But isn't it a relief when the brats parents come home?!?!  While you might have played some fun games, and the kids might have really made you smile, you are glad that the real parents are there to take over and you can finally kick back.

That throne that is sitting in your heart can function in two ways.  And only two ways.  It can be the throne that we gladly hand over to its rightful owner.  Or, it becomes a tomb that imprisons us.

See, this is the thing about being your own King.  In pursuit of freedom, your freedoms to make choices begin to diminish.  When Christ leads us, true freedom opens up expansively before us.  No longer entrapped by choices, sins, mistakes, the exhaustion of being "in charge".  When He sits on His throne, we can become exactly what we are made to be.

I do not know what you are made to be.  But I do know what you are not made to be.  King.  As long as you are king, you cannot be anything else.

This kinda sums it up;  Jesus doesn't coexist, He is the King.  Also, this stuff is funny.  Click it.

Things Aren't What They Seem

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about^[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet^[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”
           -- Matthew 1:18-21

Joe got his mind blown right here.  Here he is, getting ready to be married, and then he finds out that his bride to be is pregnant with a man that is clearly not him.  Like most people he deals with what he sees on the surface.  Fiance pregnant, I know its not me, therefore, she is unfaithful. 

How many times do we deal with our first impressions.  A situations occurs and we react immediately.  Joseph is given a radical new perspective; This is something God is doing.  And it is what God is doing to save us from sin!

When what we experience as "bad" happens to us, we often cannot see out of the box of that response.  

Romans 8:28 tells us that God will work ALL things to our good.  Let me repeat that.....ALL things.  One more time with feeling.....ALL THINGS!

What Joseph felt was hurtful, broken promises, unfaithfulness, was actually the most important miracle of all time,;that God would become man so that He could die for us.

Look at your life.  What is it that you are hurt by, frustrated with, desperate over?  Are you willing to see that the hand of God is there, even there? 

Our greatest need is not to have an easier life, less problems, more "x".  It is to be made new and finally experience what we are truly made for.  What are hearts cry out for;  To be found in the one who literally crafted you out of dust and breathed life into you.

We are a stubborn and obstinate people.  Usually, we have to be dragged, kicking and screaming, to that which is good for us.  Ever try to feed a 3 year old vegetables?  My own heart ache is that so many times it takes difficulties for me to look for God.  And then, in the midst of those difficulties, I feel better than I have ever felt before. 

Weird isn't it?

But here is the key.  When we are oppressed and desperate, you have two diametrically opposed choices;  Find God, or, find grief. 

Joseph could have closed His ears to God's message about what He was really doing.  He could have walked away from Mary, and missed the most amazing opportunity.  Being the father to the son of God!  He would have been left only with his hurt over betrayal, and his loneliness without his spouse.  But instead, he listened for what God was doing, and the trajectory of his life took a much different path.

Where do you need to start looking, and trusting in, God's love for you in the midst of difficult circumstances.  Because even this, even this, He will be gracious and good to you. 


    

I know this is silly.  But it looks like life sometimes.

When I am to Tired to go Forward

Hebrews 4:1 
"Therefore since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it."

What is the "therefore" there for?  The preceding passage talks about unbelief and sinful hearts.  And here we are told immediately, as an encouragement AND a challenge, His(God's) rest STILL STANDS!

How exhausted are you by life?  What are the events in your life, by your own creation, and even those done against you, that have you beaten down?

Here is God's promise to me and to you.  His rest is still there. 

We are incapable of soldiering on by ourselves.  We can hang on by a thread and try to simply survive.  But we are never thriving.  Spiritually, emotionally and physically we need rest.  If you are trying to get in shape, one of the best things you can do for yourself is get sleep.  You can exercise every day, but if you never sleep, your body will fall apart.

So often we run ourselves ragged and are incapable of finding rest.  There is only one place where the true rest that you and I desperately need comes from.  The resting place of God. 

And He invites you to join Him there.

The end of this chapter of Hebrews ends with one of the best encouragements in all of scripture;  "For we do not have a high priest who is unable sympathize with our weaknesses".

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is accept and believe and trust in His rest.  And Jesus is standing there saying, "I get it, been there done that, let me show you the way".

Do you need someone to guide you to a place of rest?  There is one who has gone before us and patiently walks with us towards that hope.  You are not alone, you need rest, and He knows and offers it freely. 

If you are a Christian, are you trusting in His rest?  Are you coming to a place where you can finally close your eyes and let your burdens go?

If you are still struggling in the wilderness....His rest still stands.  Stop exhausting your self and just surviving.  Come to the rest that will lead you to thriving.

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 

Do you feel like this?

Your Spouse Counts on You

Proverbs 31:23
"Her husband is respected at the city gates, where he takes his seat among the Elders of the Land"

How your spouse acts is your fault.  Now don't get me wrong, I am not blaming you for certain behaviors and significant problems.  But, in general, the ways in which we influence the behavior of our spouse are beyond measure.

There has been plenty written about being a "Proverbs 31" woman.  So, I won't bore you with more of the same.  Something odd stands out in the passage though.  All of the descriptions of a "Wife of Noble" character list things that the wife does.  And then, right in the middle, there is this random blurb that seemingly has nothing to do with her. 

A straight reading would indicate that only those women with respectable husbands can become wives of noble character.  So, if your husband is a bum, guess what?  You're out of luck.

That is bogus though.  What I believe King Lemuel is teaching us in that statement is something that crosses gender lines and is a transferable concept for wives AND husbands.

Why is this husband a person of honor and leadership?  Because his wife helped equip him to be so.  As this woman lives her life honorably and as a blessing to her husband and her family, he in turn achieves greater things.  If his wife was the opposite of what is described here, how successful would he be outside of the home? 

And here is the truth.  This cuts both ways.  The way we live will have a profound influence on the behavior and success of our spouse.  God designed marriage to be a partnership that pushes each individual to become more than what they were alone. 

If I am belligerent and hurtful towards my wife, I shouldn't be surprised if her work and life suffer.  Instead of being the person who builds her up and gives her a sense of safety and freedom to be better than she was before, I can hamstring her with unkind words and irresponsible behavior. 

The power we have to influence and encourage our spouses is a profound and humbling responsibility. 


You are not your own.  You do not have a separate existence that allows you to do whatever you want and not accept the responsibility for your actions power to hurt or harm your spouse. 

Do you want a better spouse?  Be a better you. 

Let me leave you with this;  Do not do this alone.  Because you can't.  The cross calls us to lay down our strength and rest in His.  Start off each day coming before God and following after Him.  Don't actually focus on doing "things" to be better.  Focus on Him, and He will change you for the better.

And finally, love your spouse well everyday.

Do You Have Enough?

Proverbs 30:8-9

⁸ Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
    give me neither poverty nor riches;
    feed me with the food that is needful for me,
⁹ lest I be full and deny you
    and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
    and profane the name of my God.

So how much money are you going to spend this month on stuff you might not need?  Not that there is anything wrong with getting and receiving gifts.  Personally I love it.  And for those wondering, I love Madden and look good in blue.....

How much is too much though?

We are constantly caught in this back and forth where the things we have seem to never be enough.  And, when we have a lot of stuff, the stuff we do have loses some of its appeal. 

The words of this Proverb are challenging.  Neither poor nor rich.  Why?  Because dwelling in either extreme can be the fertile soil of sin.  When we have too much, we begin to find our contentment in those things.  The way we value our experience and selves becomes shaped by the comforts we have acquired.  When we have too little, we can fall into a cycle of bad decisions in a desperate attempt to alleviate the condition.

What is the solution?

Trusting God for daily bread.

A consistent theme through out scripture is to enter into each day trusting that God is who He says He is.  A good and loving father.  And that He will meet the needs you have, Himself. 

This is so hard for us to do.  The Israelites were told to not save any manna as a daily act of trusting that even tomorrow, God would take care of them again.

We struggle so much with that.  Just like the Israelites we want to control things ourselves.  Laying ourselves down before God and allowing Him to do what it is we need is a total act of humility and trust.  Two things that I know I am not good at it.  And I am assuming you aren't much better than me, so it is safe to say this is a struggle for you as well.

But this is more than just "food" or "money".  This is an all encompassing picture of the goodness and provision of God. 

How about emotionally?  Spiritually?  Physically? 

In all areas of our lives God is calling us to stop doing it ourselves.  He has the exact right amount we need to see this through to the other side. 

Does this not feel like your experience though?

Let me challenge you, and me, with this.  I am betting that we rarely actually do live out a practice of trust.  We often just go to the same well(our own) to deal with the challenges in life.  And then we wonder where God is, as we stand with our backs to Him.  This week lets put into practice actually coming to God, hat in hand, and trusting Him to meet us right where we are and take care of us.

Practical Steps:
1)  Get in the Word, hear from God so that you can see where He is moving
2)  Pray more.  Pray honestly about those challenges you are facing
3) Talk to someone.  One of the hardest things for us to do is to open up and be honest with a fellow Christian.  Go to someone who you know is walking with God.  God speaks to us through His people.  Do you need help seeing through the haze of your own trials.  Get a friendly guide.

Remember, be careful where you get your Manna from