What I am loving about Christmas this year, as a new follow of Jesus, is knowing that the story doesn't end there. In fact, it would be NOTHING if it were not for the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus to follow. Moving on past the fact that just in Jesus' birth alone, many prophesies from the Old Testament were fulfilled, and we see that in Matthew 2:16-23, when King Herod tried to kill the young boy Jesus by ordering the slauter of all the two year old boys in Bethlehem, Jeremiah 31:15 is fulfilled, "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more." Thinking on this passage alone. Sorta addresses the question, why does God allow bad things to happen? I can't imagine the killing of innocent 2 year olds. God allows "great morning, weeping" the moms "refuse to be comforted" this is bleak. This is really tough for me to swallow actually. Like everything else in the world, God didn't just allow it to happen, He controls EVERYTHING, cause He is God. It reminds me of how fragile this life is, and how permanent God is. And God has a plan and purpose for everything. That can give us some comfort. Through this, Jesus ends up living in Nazareth, so that fulfills the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene." (v. 23)
Lord,
we don't understand your ways sometimes. Show me what I am suppost to do with this.
I have prayed that particular prayer many times. It is amazing how God has answered it over the years. You have hit on a big boulder in the road for many Christians. Some can't even get past it. That very obstacle blocked the way for me many years. Thank you for putting it in words so well!
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