The Outwitted’s Rage

“Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "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."

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."  So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 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."

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 2:7-8, 13-18

King Herod was a monster.  He was a brutal, power-thirsty ruler.  Out of fear that they might take away his kingdom, he had his wife and three sons killed.  Out of his desire for greatness, he rebuilt Solomon’s temple.  Out of his desire to be mourned, he ordered that at his death that a representative from every Israeli family be put to death so there would be wailing when he died.  Thankfully, his command was not carried out by his son.

When the Magi visited him and told him they were looking for the King of the Jews and the chief priests told him Micah 5:2 said this king would be born in Bethlehem, King Herod was disturbed.  He felt a powerful threat to his throne.

He was afraid this newborn baby would one day take away his throne and be king.  He had good reasons to be scared.  He was not the rightful heir to the throne of David.  He was partly Jewish.  His father was a descendant from Esau, not Jacob.  Herod had an Arabian mother, and it was commonly held that one could only be a Jew when one was born from a Jewish mother.  The Jews resented his appointment by Rome.  The religious leaders condemned him for his brutality.  The Pharisees despised any ruler who despised the Law.   All of his subjects resented his excessive taxation.  So when King Herod was disturbed, all of Jerusalem was disturbed with him.  Many must have been afraid to arouse his suspicion and stayed to clear to not receive his wrath of terror.

So Herod lied to the Magi.  He told them when they found this king, to report back to him so that he could go and worship him, too.  He never intended to bend the knee or bear a gift.  He thought he had devised a plan to uncover this would-be king and destroy him.

When the wise men were warned of Herod’s treacherous plans, they did not return to him but took a different route home.  So Herod devised another plan to destroy this infant king.  However, he didn’t understand that he was fighting the King of Kings and the LORD of hosts.  God supernaturally intervened and sent his angel to warn Joseph in a dream to take Jesus and his mother and escape to Egypt.

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted, he did what weak evil leaders do.  He acted in cruel rage.  He slaughtered those precious baby boys in Bethlehem.  Jeremiah’s Scripture was fulfilled and wailing rang in the homes and streets.  Herod didn’t mind spilling innocent blood to secure his throne and neither does satan.  The evil one used Herod as his vessel to attempt to kill the Messiah, the one who would crush his head. 

My precious friend, God opened my eyes through this story.  I’m sure you saw that God protected His Son and fulfilled His plan.  God sent an angel to Joseph 4 times to tell him what to do and ensured provision for His Son.  God made the rules of this natural world.  He can work naturally or supernaturally to make sure that His will is carried out.  He always wins.  God can’t be outwitted by anyone.  Right?

This is when my eyes were opened.  Since the evil powers can’t outwit God and God always wins, they have only one recourse – to act evil and unleash their fury.   In their desperation, they resort to treachery.  All they usually gain is a sick satisfaction to have tormented innocent lives.  Treachery and ruthlessness doesn’t gain the ultimate power that evil truly desires.  When your rule is weak and you are obsessed to keep it, atrocious and vile become your companions.  However, in God’s absolute rule, then protection, outwitting the enemy, love, and kindness encompass Him.  Seeing this jewel of wisdom made me once again respond in worship.  Beloved, do you see how wonderful our God is?  He is holy and perfect.  He never is outsmarted, out maneuvered, or outwitted.  No one gets the best of our God.  He never acts out of weakness or vileness.  His ways are perfect!  Hallelujah!

Pray with me:  Father God, we give you our battles.  Outwit the enemy who is trying to best us once again.  We ask for Your protection in our lives and bar the evil one from us.  Bless us with Your gifts from above.  We ask Lord, that You restrain the enemy from his anger where he has hurt so many innocent lives.  Restrain his fury.  Bring more precious lives under Your wings and in Your shelter may they find salvation.  It’s in Your precious Son’s Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.