The Evil Plan

When King Herod heard this he was deeply disturbed, and all of Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born. "in Bethlehem Of Judea, " they told him, "because this is what was written by the prophet:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah: because out of you will come a leader who will shepherd My people Israel.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the male children in and around Bethlehem who were 2 years old and younger, in keeping with the time he learned from the wise men. Matthew 2:3,4;16

Here was the promise of the Messiah, the legitimate king and here was an illegitimate king wanting to kill the one the whole of Israel had waited. What were the leaders thinking to allow this crazy man his way? What were the soldiers thinking to obey such an order in an effort to wipe out the Messiah?

God had a plan and took Joseph, Mary and Jesus to Egypt for protection. Yet hundreds of little boys were slaughtered because of this evil man. What grief! What pain!

Evil men are used to destroy what God has intended and yet what God intends still prospers. Praise Him!