The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:13-18, “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.’

14 And he arose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed for Egypt;

15 and was there until the death of Herod, that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, ‘Out of Egypt did I call My Son.’

16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi.

17 Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

18 ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.’”

It makes me so mad when I’m in the middle of a good dream and wake up before it is finished! Ever had an experience like that? I’m sure you have. The word “dream” appears in 88 verses of the Bible. It includes

Abimelech (Gen 20:3), Jacob (Gen 28:12), Laban (Gen 31:24), Joseph (Gen 37:5), Pharaoh (Gen 41:1),

Gideon (Jdg 7:13), Solomon (1Kg 3:5), False prophets (Jer 23:25), Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:3), Daniel (Dan 7:1), Joseph, Mary’s husband (Mat 1:20), the Magi (Mat 1:12), and Pilate’s wife (Mat 27:19).

Not all of those dreams were good, but the point is that the LORD sometimes speaks to people in dreams. When He spoke to Joseph, telling him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt for safety, Joseph had every reason to believe Him because of what He had said and done in the past. Why is it not like that with us? We have seen the LORD’s Hand working in and for our lives before; but, when He speaks to us again, we shudder and fumble and argue within ourselves as to whether we should obey. Shame on us! Joseph didn’t do that. And he had a lot more at stake than we because the care of the Christchild was his responsibility.

The message of the LORD was clear: get out of town (Bethlehem)! God to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you otherwise, because Herod will search for the Child to destroy Him. Satan has always put it into the hearts of men to destroy the work of the LORD. Christianity has historically been under attack. Missionaries have been killed by those they sought to bring to faith in Christ. Pastors have been attacked in the satanic effort to defame and destroy the message of salvation. True and godly people in all walks of life are constantly bullied because of their faith. Sometimes, the message of the LORD is to run.

In the meantime, Herod gave orders to slay all male children two years old and under, who were in Bethlehem and the surrounding territory. How many were senselessly slaughtered under Herod’s furious directive is not told us; yet his satanic intention was clear: destroy the Messiah, lest he live to reach the Cross, wherein salvation is readied for all mankind.

In all of this evil carnage that raged agains the young Child Jesus, an Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled. Jeremiah had said, “A voice was heard in Ramah (a city north of Jerusalem)…Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.” The fulfillment of the prophecy is of greater concern that even the lives of those young Jewish children. It demonstrates that the LORD’s will supersedes the will of all others! Herod dies, and there is yet another dream that will come to Joseph.

Let your life always be lived by faith in the LORD! Nothing can discourage those who are focused on Him! He is our All-in-All!

We lovingly think and pray for you as we rejoice in the LORD’s blessings,

Nana & Dado III

(Rose Marie & Gene)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”