The Threats And Campaigns Of Herod

The Threats And Campaigns Of Herod

“When King Herod ... had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the Law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written’ ... Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘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.’ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was ... On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him ... When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘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’ ... After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the Child’s life are dead.’” Matthew 2:3-20 NIV

The first Christmas found our promised Savior far from any center of power or prestige, in a manger in Bethlehem. By earthly standards, His was a poor beginning. But according to God’s sovereign plan, it was perfect. Why? In part because Bethlehem was removed from the merchants of evil who sought Christ’s destruction. But more importantly, because God was in control.

Matthew 2 makes this clear. There we read that Herod, the paranoid head of state who would stop at nothing to snuff out a rival, was thwarted in his efforts to kill the Boy-King. First the wise men, whom Herod asked to report back as soon as they found the child, took the long way home. They saw his spite-filled heart and protected the Messiah by their silence. Then Herod’s slaughter of every little boy turned up short. God had warned Joseph to flee to Egypt. Herod brought all of his evil to bear in the hope of bringing Christ to an untimely death. But God intervened.

Today this story is being repeated in Africa. In this overlooked part of the world, God is raising up not only prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, but also politicians, professors, doctors and lawyers. Together this Christian army will transform the continent and restore hope. But the new Herods of Africa – famine, AIDS, disease, poverty, war, ignorance and corruption – are trying to thwart God’s plan. The situation is very dark. But I am confident that God will thwart Herod one more time.

Please do not misunderstand me. There will remain much suffering. Just as the slaughter of innocents led to many tears, the death toll in my land will continue to rip open hearts. I am especially broken for the children who have suffered a lifetime of sorrow in a handful of years. But Herod will not succeed.

Just as God thwarted his evil plans in the first century, He will bring an end to the evil campaigns of this century. His strong arm of protection will sustain those upon whom hope is restored. The only real question is: Where are the Marys and Josephs of this generation? Where are those who will obey God’s voice and complete His mission? He is calling His Church to transform Africa.

The Herodic menaces destroying my home will not triumph. Will you join me in raising up a strong, continent-transforming Church in Africa?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Francis Morkeh was a pastor, teacher and administrator in Bible colleges in Accra and Tema, Ghana before going to the USA for further training. On his return, he intends to continue serving as pastor, teacher and developer.

NOTE: This article is reprinted by permission from “Hope For A Despairing World,” CISF (Christian International Scholarship Foundation), Lake Forest, Illinois, 2003.