“Watch Out For The Deceptive Words Of The Herods Of Our Time!”

“Watch Out For The Deceptive Words Of The Herods Of Our Time!”(Mt. 2:1-12).
Today we oppose astrology as being contrary to the Christian faith. Matthew mentions that at Jesus’ birth astrologers from the east saw the zodiac constellation which indicated that a king had been born. And they came to visit the new born king.
They went to the palace of Herod to look for the new born king because in their nativity they considered that a new born king could only be a prince. But as it proved, God’s ways are not the ways of humans.
With God not all future kings are born princes. God takes from nothing and turns into something! As prophesied long before, Bethlehem in the land of Judah was by no means the least of the leading cities of Judah; for from you will come a leader who will guide the people.
The wise men from the east did not know this. Herod did not know this, but God had planned it beforehand. Grassfield people of Cameroon say you never can tell the queen who will give birth to the next king.
Today we focus on Herod’s words to the wise men. Herod called the men to a secret meeting, pried them and found from them the exact time the star appeared. When they told him, he sent them on their way with these instructions: “Go and make a careful search for the child, and when you find him, let me know, so that I too may go and worship him.” But we know from what eventually happened that his intention was evil! He did not intend to go and worship the new king. His intention was to destroy the potential rival! But God saved the Saviour until the right time.
The lesson for us is to be wary of secret meetings with kings. Such meetings are intended for the destruction of some good people! Watch out for the deceptive language of some leaders – be they secular or sacred!
Herod gave firm instructions to the men as if they were his citizens. Sometimes we get bored with words like, “with firm instructions from…!”
Nevertheless, God knows how to protect his own until the right time. The wise men returned to their country by a different road, “since God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod.”
Oh yes; God will not allow any of his chosen to be destroyed by the enemy, until the appointed time. My friend, guard against the deception of the Herods of today!
Weekend prayer: Heavenly Father, keep me away from the deception of any Herod. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.