The Great Escape
In a few days, Christmas will be over. Gifts will be given and presents will be opened. Just because Christmas will be over doesn’t mean the story of Jesus ends.
A very important prayer was answered over 2,000 years ago that changed the course of our lives forever. During the time of the birth of Jesus, King Herod an appointed Roman ruler was king of Jerusalem. He was a very ruthless and mean man. He murdered his wife, his 3 sons, his mother-in-law, uncle, babies in Bethlehem and many others. He was not a person the Jews wanted as their king. They very much were waiting and praying for a new king, one that would save them from Herod’s rule (Matthew 2:1-2).
It all started with the Magi, the wise men who were following a star that predicted the birth of Jesus, the king of the Jews. Even though the Magi were Gentiles, they went to seek Him in Jerusalem the Jewish capital city so they could worship Him (Matthew 2:2). But after meeting with the chief priests and teachers they discovered baby Jesus wasn’t in Jerusalem but born in Bethlehem.
When King Herod heard the news of a possible king being born, he was angry. He called upon the Magi to tell them “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” (Matthew 2:7). What the Magi didn’t know was Herod was an evil man and never had any intentions to worship the new king.
The Magi were overjoyed when they finally met baby Jesus and Mary. They brought them gifts and bowed and worshipped Him (Matthew 2:10-11). In their rejoicing, Satan was at work behind the scenes, using Herod as his vessel, creating a plan to have baby Jesus killed.
I love how God intervenes to protect His will and plan.
How was baby Jesus able to escape the evil plan of the Satan?
3 Ways God Intervened:
- God warned the Maggi about Herod’s evil plan in a dream. The Magi decided not to return to Herod but back to their country by another route (Matthew 2:12). Herod learned he had been outwitted by the Magi, that he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under (Matthew 2:16).
- God sent an angel to appear to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, “Get up, 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” (Matthew 2:13). So Joseph and Mary left with baby Jesus to Egypt until the death of Herod.
- After Herod died God sent another angel in a dream to Joseph telling him it was safe to head back to Israel (Matthew 2:19).
God was always one step ahead of Satan. He knew Satan was using Herod for his evil plan, in an attempt to stop one of God’s greatest plans ever—God is bigger.
God heard and answered the prayers of those praying for a new king and saved (Mary, Joseph and Jesus) from the evil hand of Herod. God provided a way to escape from the plans of the evil one. His merciful hands had it under control the entire time.
Satan will always be at work trying to prevent God’s plans from happening. Whatever our circumstances are please know, if God is able to provide Mary, Joseph and Jesus an escape from Satan’s evil plans then God is able to do the same for us. You are loved!
When we trust in God’s plans for us, He will always provide an escape for us protecting us from the plans of the evil one.
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The only temptations that you have are the temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to stand it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 ICB).
God’s timing and plan are perfect in every way. If God can answer a prayer from 2,000 years ago, He can answer yours as well.
Your Prayers Matter. Don’t forget to include PRAYER in Your Christmas Story. You never know what one prayer can do, it might just change your life or someone else’s.
Do you include Prayer in your Christmas Story?
What have you prayed for this Christmas?
Here is a Christmas Prayer for you.
A Christmas Prayer-
Dear God- Thank you for your amazing gift of Jesus this Christmas. Thank you for hearing our prayers and sending us Savior, a Messiah one that will redeem our world. You are so merciful and gracious. Thank you for sparing us and delivering us from the hands of the evil one. May your light shine through us this Christmas to others. May they see your bright light and know you have sent them a Savior. May everyone know and witness your love. May everyone receive the greatest gift of all this Christmas, eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Enjoy your families and know you are loved!
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