When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31‬:‭15‬-‭17‬
This is what the Lord says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” This is what the Lord says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your descendants,” declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land.”

Here we see heartache upon heartache. As a father of five, I honestly don’t know how I would react to a murderous brood of Romans killing a little one of mine. I would fight them off the best I could and probably lose my life trying to save him. That is if I had a chance to fight. Most likely, they would have restrained me first.

This is such a horrible decree, and we see how jealousy and the zest for power turned into murderous anger in Herod. This is what happens with ungodly rulers. Their personal ambitions and pride override what is good and right. Such a tough, tough time in Jerusalem.

And yet God had a plan. These murdered children would be with him in heaven and he would keep Jesus alive to save the human race by his sacrifice. Herod acted in evil. God worked his plan of redemption in an evil world. Two contrasting plans. Amidst a lot of pain and anguish, ultimately the people of God are victorious.

I think the second half of the prophecy in Jeremiah may speak to this: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your descendants,” declares the Lord. “Your children will return to their own land.”

Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned from the land of Egypt, mostly an enemy to the Jews. Jesus is the hope of the Jews for their children and their children’s children. He is the Messiah! And as we believe in him, we will come into the heavenly Jerusalem — a land of peace — enveloped in God's presence.

My heart breaks even now, over 2,000 years later, for these families. And I know the heart of God was broken too. Today, there are some who deal with unimaginable horrors or heartache. And we are to weep with them and comfort them. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬)

And we are to remember why we serve a just and holy God. Because the rulers who do not follow God, serve the evil gods of this world. And behind these “gods” is the prince of darkness, Satan. Death, destruction, fear, and misery are his companions, and he lies to entrap people in them.

Lord, what a wakeup call here in Matthew as to the evil that can reside in the hearts of men. You sent your Son to save us. Herod attacked the little children to kill Jesus. I am on the side of the One Who Saves!