March 2 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Nobody realized the absolute power of the newborn King—except the devil. Through Herod, his willing agent, the devil moved in for the kill. But God moved faster.

The devil "was a murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44). Long before Herod's time, the Pharaoh of Egypt tried to kill all the male chil­dren of God's people, as the devil's agent. That time Moses, the deliverer of Israel, escaped the massacre. He was nursed, protected, and educated right in Pharaoh's palace. Oh, the humor of God! And in Herod's attack on the male children of Bethlehem, the Savior escaped. History was not being repeated; it was being fulfilled.

The scene in Bethlehem is heartrending. Wailing mothers hold their dead babies. Powerless fathers sob in silent rage. Who will take ven­geance on the mean murderer of God's people?

As if he wants to bring all the sorrow of God's people into one picture, the writer reminds us of Rachel, another weeping mother in Bethlehem. She died there in childbirth, and she called her son a child of sorrow (Gen. 35:18).

The whole history of God's people has been written in blood and tears. The attacks of the devil and the judgments of God have gone over them. Their mothers weep and refuse to be comforted. Where is the deliverer?

But now the word of comfort is announced: Dry your tears, mothers of Bethlehem. Take courage, daughters of Zion. The city of David has given birth to the Son of David. The Savior lives. God has come to fight the battle of his people. The time is fulfilled.

Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning (Ps. 30:5). Jesus is coming to save his people. And he will take all our sorrows upon himself!

REFLECTIONS

Reflect on the cost of your salvation, and then give thanks.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.