Wednesday, December 30, 2015
THE WONDERS OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN THE PRESERVATION OF THE CHILD JESUS (3)
Matthew 2:13-15 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
"GOD ON THE RUN"
We see "God on the run" here--Jesus, the Christ, fleeing for His life as a young Child in the care of His earthly parents. While that may strike us as odd, weren't there times when, even as an adult, Jesus "ran away"? One winter during the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, some unbelieving Jews wanted Jesus to tell them plainly if He was the Christ. When He answered, "I and My Father are one," they took up stones to stone Him. A bit later we read: "Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand" (John 10:30ff).
On such occasions Jesus "ran away." When we ponder why, was it not because of Christmas? Since "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14), it would become necessary for Him at times to "run away" from evil people like Herod and the stone-throwers. He had come to Earth on a mission which necessitated His death, but that death would take place according to His timetable, not man's.
Finally, His time came. Jesus didn't run away from His betrayers in the Garden of Gethsemane. He did not, because the time had come for Him to shed His innocent blood as the ransom-payment for the sins of the world.
What comfort and encouragement for God’s children in all this! The events of our lives too are arranged in keeping with our Heavenly Father's providential care. Though often not clear to our sin-infected view, there are holy and good reasons for those trials and troubles which take place in our lives. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us ... and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:18, 28).
Fellow believers, we may safely and gladly entrust ourselves to God's loving and fatherly care.
To this vale of tears He comes,
Here to serve in sadness,
That with Him in heav'n's fair homes
We may reign in gladness.
O Lord Christ, our Savior dear,
Be Thou ever near us.
Grant us now a glad new year.
Amen, Jesus, hear us!
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 97:2, 4)
