The Deliverer


Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are Mighty, Forgiving, Just, Merciful. You are All-in-All. I take a moment to praise You and worship You as my God and Lord. Thank You for Your Word and the truth that it speaks as it informs and ever changes my life. Please join me in this time of devotion and build in me a faith that endures. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Read: Matthew 2:1-12
http://www.esvbible.org/Matthew 2:1-12

Thoughts: In its perfection, the Bible is consistently and constantly pointing back to itself as the many stories actually add up to on large picture; that picture is of Christ as our Savior. If you are a student of the Bible at all, today’s reading should sound vaguely  similar to another story; one from the Old Testament. For a refresher, go back and read Exodus 1:8-2:10. Here you will find the story of the birth (and near death) of Moses. God’s people were not very happy. They had been made slaves after living for 400 years in Egypt, following the amazing success of Joseph in saving all of his own people along with the Egyptians from starvation. Despite being forced into slavery they were still God’s people and He continued to bless them even in their terrible circumstances. In response to their cries for mercy, He sent a deliverer in the person of Moses to free them from the oppressor’s rod. During the time of Moses’ birth, Pharaoh perceived that he might be facing trouble with the Hebrew nation, as they had grown numerous, and so he ordered the killing of all the male babies upon birth.

Fast forward a few thousand years and we come across the story of Jesus’ birth and the fears of one man, King Herod. He too orders the death of all the infants born in the area as he learns that a “king” has been born. This news threatens a man who is already paranoid about his position as ruler over the area. (This is not a title he won by power or force. He was appointed at the leisure of the true power of the day – the Romans – and they were able to remove that power from him too.) Herod gained his seat of power in 40 B.C. He was wealthy, a good administrator, and an able leader in some areas such as famine relief and building projects. But he also imposed heavy taxes and was generally hated by the Jews. In his later years (around the time of Jesus’ birth) he was cruel, given to fits of rage, and murdered his own wife and two of his sons. For someone with this track record, ordering the deaths of Judean infants was an easy day. But God’s will is never thwarted. Just as He was able to save the life of Moses so that he could deliver God’s people from slavery, so God saves the infant Jesus, as He would become the Deliverer of all of us from slavery to our sin.

When the odds look insurmountable, God is always there to make His will a reality. No matter the circumstances, He brings peace and stability to His people. The threats of a dictator or the downward spiral of our circumstances are no match for the God who   controls the entire universe. In a life-threatening situation Jochebed (Moses’ mom) and Mary were forced to rely on God’s protection, for these were situations completely out of their control. Granted, Jochebed’s solution of floating her son down the river was somewhat creative and required faith to execute. But God was not stymied by the challenge. Moses was well cared for and was raised to be the leader that God wanted him to be. Mary had only to listen to Joseph as God guided and directed the new family into safety. Our lives can be that simple if we want them to; it takes a willingness to bow to a mighty God and let Him lead the way into His will. It’s a pretty good place to be each day.

Prayer: When I fear, dear Lord, teach me to turn to You. When I am confused, dear Lord, teach me to turn to You. When the situation is dark and I have no answers, teach me to turn to You. Please fill my life with Your peace and teach me Your way so that Your will is my goal. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

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