Outwitted
Herod went on with his everyday evil life after the Magi left for Bethlehem. (No it’s not sarcastic to call him evil-it’s truth.) Do you think he forgot the purpose of the Magi’s visit? They told him they had come to worship the “one born King of the Jews.”
But Herod was the king of the Jews! In his mind there could be no other king but him. His evil attitude produced a sad horrible tragedy still remembered in the history of Israel. He did not forget for a moment. When the Magi did not return to give him a report on Jesus Herod was furious.
What happens to any human heart when the love and truth of God are ignored? Herod had every chance to know the truth. He could have known the rich God directed history of the Jewish people. He was their king. Herod was king of a nation with a rich history of following God. He had no part in it.
He had every chance to understand God’s instructions for Israel. God’s word clearly spoke to Israel’s king. The king of Israel was to make for himself a complete copy of God’s law when he became king. The incoming king was to MAKE HIS OWN COPY. That would be by hand.
“When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests.”
Deuteronomy 17:18
What happens when we hand copy text? Does it seem that a king of Israel would have many more important things to do besides copying from the Bible? No. God is first.
God’s word contains the instructions for life. It contains His eternal love and forgiveness. To rule Israel (God’s chosen people) the king needed to understand the will of God. God’s word reveals God’s will. To rule Israel, the king must know what God wills. Herod chose to go his way-not God’s.
The same is true for us. This is God’s universe. God’s best for everyone is found in the Bible. Yes, it still applies today…copies of the Bible are available to all Americans.
What happens when any human ignores God’s word-God’s best? Herod is a powerful example. Herod followed his wants …his wishes…his desires. He certainly never copied the scroll of God’s law. Bethlehem became a place of death because Herod followed the evil in his heart:
“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. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “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.”
Matthew 2:16-18
It’s absolute evil.
Herod was the king of the people. He should have been the protector of Israel-not the destroyer of innocent children. What happens when people ignore or forget God? “Herod” things happen.