God Tells Us How

Jesus is born.  The Magi from the East recognize that he is the King of the Jews.  They come looking for him and ask the current king, Herod, where they can find his successor.

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. (Matthew 2:3 NIV)

It’s not surprising that king Herod was disturbed.  He probably was concerned about how quickly this new king would take the throne.  Not only that, this king certainly was going against Herod’s on succession plan.  He was going to have his son, Archelaus, take over the family business (See Matthew 2:22).  There was no way Herod was going to let someone else take over.  So, he tried to find out more.

When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. (Matthew 2:4 NIV)

Perhaps his greatest reason to fear was his lack of knowledge.  Herod did not know God’s plan.  He had to ask others what God had in mind.  He had to check in with priests and teachers of the law to learn more.  More than that, he didn’t trust that the Jewish God was, in fact, God.  So the plans and prophecies were just resistance and fairy tales.

"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" (Matthew 2:5-6 NIV)

The thing is, Herod didn’t need to be afraid.  He could have known God’s plan.  He could have read the prophecies.  God wasn’t keeping his agenda a secret.  It was written down for all to read.  Herod could have just read his Bible.  That’s what the priests and teachers had done.  More than that, Herod could have found peace by submitting to God’s will as well.  But, instead, he ignored God.  He fought God.  He rebeled against God.  He tried to stop God’s plan.

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.(Proverbs 16:25 NIV)

How about you?  Do you pay attention to what God has said in the past?  Have you read His words in the Bible?  Do you trust that God is, in fact, God?  Do you try to fight Him, or do you join in His plans?