No One Foils God's Plan

"Today's Devotion" For January 9, 2006

Read: Matthew 2:13-23; Psalm 26

NO ONE FOILS GOD'S PLAN

"'Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,' declares the Lord. They will return from the land of the enemy.'" (Jeremiah 31:16)

Over the past week or so, things have gotten increasingly deadly in Iraq. In the last week or so news reports noted a day on which at least 130 Iraqis were murdered by a suicide bomber, along with five Marines. Just yesterday the news noted the deaths of five more U.S. troops serving in Iraq. It's a deadly place to be and certainly our troops would prefer to be someplace else. Into this cauldron of fear and death sixteen members of the Wisconsin National Guard are leaving today with their eventual destination being Iraq in order to train Iraqis on how to train and run an army. This is a good thing - it doesn't mitigate the danger for them. Yet, in the face of the angst we might feel about the war and the risk to our troops of life and limb, perhaps it's important to recognize that nothing happens in this world without God knowing about it. Even in the midst of death and destruction, and even in spite of it, God works to accomplish His purpose and redeem His people.

Matthew's account of the coming of the Magi to worship Jesus also tells us that King Herod sought to kill Jesus. God would have none of that. While it was God's purpose that the Christ should die for the sins of the world, Bethlehem was neither the place nor the time for that redemptive sacrifice. So, while Herod's murderous designs were carried out by the slaughter of all the boys two years of age and under living in Bethlehem, God warned Joseph of Herod's evil intent and the coming carnage in a dream and sent Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to Egypt until Herod's death. Matthew notes for us, however, that even Herod's actions were part of God's plan for they had been prophesied by Jeremiah the prophet long before (Matthew 2:18; Jeremiah 31:15). That Satan was also at work in this event there can be no doubt, since he, also, wanted to see Jesus fail in His mission to save the world for His Father in heaven.

In spite of the carnage wreaked by Herod and his minions, God's plan of salvation still moved forward, never missing a beat. Jesus is kept safe from Herod's murderous intent. His flight into Egypt and subsequent return after Herod's death identifies Jesus with Israel and it flight to Egypt in time of famine and flight from Egypt to escape the Pharaoh. After His family's return from Egypt upon Herod's death, Matthew tells us that they settled in Nazareth because Herod's son, Archelaus, was ruling in Judea and Joseph was afraid to take his family there. He settled on the region of Galilee where they took up residence in Nazareth, all which is, according to Matthew, in keeping with prophecy. Although the last sentence of chapter 2 is not specifically found anywhere in the Old Testament - "He will be called a Nazarene" - it's believed by many to be a compilation of a number of Old Testament prophesies about the Messiah and, perhaps, even a takeoff on the Hebrew word for "branch" - "netzer" - referring to the Christ being a "branch" or "root" of Jesse and King David. Regardless of any "disagreement" as to the meaning of the last sentence of Matthew 2, there is no doubt that God's plan for our salvation moved forward according to His Will and purpose.

You may remember the old "Dudley DoRight" character of silent film days who was always saving the heroine from the dastardly villain. It was a character and genre which carried over into "talkies." One of the most memorable phrases ever uttered in those films - either by words on the screen or spoken in the "talkies" - was that of the villain, "Curses! Foiled again!" The story line was always about the triumph of good over evil. Those movies were, of course, fiction. The events surrounding the flight of the "Holy Family" into Egypt were not. Sin, Death, and Satan were not about to be foiled if they had anything to say about it (they didn't). If they could have rid themselves of the child Jesus then the plan of salvation would have been destroyed and they would have reigned supreme. Herod and his henchmen were willing participants. If they would have had their way none of us would ever know God or His love and forgiveness of all our sin.

By God's almighty power, His undeserved grace, His endless mercy, and His infinite love the powers of Sin, Death, and Satan and all the evil they bring into the world have no power over us. They cannot "foil" God's plan for our salvation for He is the God of History - He is, after all, the Creator of all things and, thus, "History" itself. As Jesus was saved from the murderous intent of Herod, so also are we saved in Christ from the murderous intent of Sin, Death, and Satan. It is God's plan and purpose for us that we be saved, our sins removed from us by the blood of Christ, and filled with hope and peace in Him. No matter whether God's people face bullets and bombs in the war on terrorism, drunken drivers on our streets, or knives, drugs, and guns in our neighborhoods and cities, not one thing exists that can foil God's plan of salvation for us in Jesus. We belong to Him. He loves us with an everlasting, unmerited, and unconditional love. No one can take us away from Him.

Prayer: Father, so often I find myself worrying about things I have no control over. I look around me and see so many things that are wrong and evil and I'm frightened that they could affect me and those I love in unpleasant, hurtful ways. Each day I face temptations to do things that are contrary to Your Word, Your Will, and Your love for me. So often I'm afraid that I might be overwhelmed by them and end up disobeying You and going in the wrong direction. Strengthen my faith that I might trust You more completely, knowing that, as You saved Jesus from the murderous intent of those who sought to foil Your plan of salvation for the world, You hold me in the very palm of Your hand and nothing can take me away from Your love. Give me the courage of faith that I may be a willing and ready witness to Your love for the world in Jesus. Help me to live my life as an example of courage focused in Jesus which allows me to face any challenge, meet any danger, and overcome any obstacle to sharing Him with others. In Jesus' precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.