Revcort's Ramblings

Scripture Focus

“When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became furious… But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt… And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled.” — Matthew 2:16, 19, 23 (ESV)

Devotional Thought

The Christmas story moves from wonder to weeping. Herod’s jealousy erupts into unspeakable violence as he orders the slaughter of Bethlehem’s children. It is a horrifying reminder that the arrival of the Light provokes a violent reaction from the darkness. Evil does not retreat quietly—it lashes out.

Yet even here, God is not absent. Long before Herod ever drew breath, God had already spoken through the prophets. Jeremiah’s words of lament at Ramah are fulfilled in Bethlehem’s sorrow. Hosea’s promise of a Son called from Egypt has already come to pass. And now, through Joseph’s obedience, Jesus is led to Nazareth—fulfilling yet another prophetic thread.

Herod’s rage could not silence God’s Word. His power could not alter God’s plan. A throne built on fear collapsed in a single generation—but the Kingdom carried by a child in His mother’s arms would never end.

The return to Nazareth seems small and ordinary. No angels sing. No crowds gather. Yet this quiet step of obedience ensures that the Messiah will be known as a Nazarene—humble, overlooked, despised by some, yet chosen by God.

God’s purposes often move forward not through spectacle—but through faithful obedience in the shadows.

Reflection Questions

1. What does Herod’s response to Jesus reveal about the nature of spiritual darkness?
2. How does the fulfillment of multiple prophecies strengthen your confidence in God’s sovereignty?
3. Why is the quiet return to Nazareth just as important as the dramatic events of Christmas?
4. In what ways might God be advancing His purposes through your ordinary obedience right now?

Closing Prayer

Sovereign Lord, thank You that no force of darkness can stop Your redemptive plan. When fear rises and chaos threatens, help me trust Your unchanging promises. Teach me to walk faithfully in both the mountaintop moments and the ordinary days, knowing You are always at work.
Amen.