The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:14-23, “So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.
15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON” (Hosea 11:1).
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 all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the Magi.
17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
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” (Jeremiah 31:15).
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said,
20 “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.”
21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee,
23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

One lesson for us all comes from what the Magi unintentionally revealed to Herod when they said of the Young Child, “We have come to worship Him.” The Magi had no idea that Herod would seek to kill the Christ-child. In the same way, we never know who will use for evil information we innocently offer in the presence of others. Be extremely careful of what you say, especially in the presence of those who are unknown to you! Satan works furiously against us all!

Some Grands Letter readers will remember the commercial where the woman warningly said, “It’s not nice to fool mother nature!” Well, it was less than nice to have fooled King Herod. He was furious! –so much so in fact, that he ordered the slaying of all baby boys, who had been newly-born while under his jurisdiction. Exactly how many male babies were slain by Herod is not known; however, scholars believe the number to be somewhere around 20 or less.

There was no easy communication in New Testament days. How was Joseph to know when –or even whether—he was to return to Israel with his young family? Yet, the LORD had provided an angel, who appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him that Herod was dead, and he and his family could then safely return to Israel.

Another “guidepost” reminds us that we are not forgotten. No matter where we are, or what our circumstances, we are within the area of Divine Communication. The LORD never loses sight of His own! We were saved for His glory! So, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Let this season of the year magnify and glorify our LORD Jesus Christ! “There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus; no, not one.”

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom