Advent - 2024 - 19
Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
ADVENT 2024
Day 19 | GOD WARNS
ADVENT 2024
Day 19 | GOD WARNS
GOD WARNS
Matthew 2:3-8, 12
“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”’ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.’
Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”
The arrival of the magi and WHO they were looking for – “the KING of the Jews” – really upset Herod. But even his own chief priests and scribes KNEW the prophecies of the birth of the Christ child, the Ruler, and the birthplace (Bethlehem). So, after confirming with his own staff the validity of the Magi’s purpose and goal, the king lies to the Magi… “go find Him then come tell me so that I may come and worship Him also.”
But God knew what was in his heart – just like He knows what’s in ours – and directed the Magi to find another way home to their country.
The fact that later in the chapter we read that Herod – hoping to kill the newborn king – then ordered the death of all male children under two years of age, gives us another indication of how long it took the Magi to travel to Jerusalem.
Prayer: LORD, because You are all-knowing, I know I can trust You to guide me in every area of my life. Amen.
Matthew 2:3-8, 12
“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”’ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.’
Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.”
The arrival of the magi and WHO they were looking for – “the KING of the Jews” – really upset Herod. But even his own chief priests and scribes KNEW the prophecies of the birth of the Christ child, the Ruler, and the birthplace (Bethlehem). So, after confirming with his own staff the validity of the Magi’s purpose and goal, the king lies to the Magi… “go find Him then come tell me so that I may come and worship Him also.”
But God knew what was in his heart – just like He knows what’s in ours – and directed the Magi to find another way home to their country.
The fact that later in the chapter we read that Herod – hoping to kill the newborn king – then ordered the death of all male children under two years of age, gives us another indication of how long it took the Magi to travel to Jerusalem.
Prayer: LORD, because You are all-knowing, I know I can trust You to guide me in every area of my life. Amen.
Posted in Advent 2024