Reign of Madness

Matthew 2:16

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the male children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men.

Herod was a madman determined to satisfy his ungodly ambition. Many scholars and medical experts believe he suffered from severe depression and paranoia, both of which exemplify extreme concentration of self. He was completely absorbed in himself and his own desires that no one else mattered. He even killed members of his own family that he suspected were trying to usurp him. When he couldn’t find the baby king, he decided to create a mass genocide to try to destroy him. I can only imagine the anguish of being a new mother at that time. Such cruelty can only be described as evil and a work of the Devil, himself.

History tells us that Herod died between 1 and 4 BC. Jesus was probably around one to four years old. Herod’s fear was that no one would mourn his death, so he ordered the death of a group of distinguished men upon his own death so the nation would display a huge presentation of grief – as if they had not already grieved tremendously the loss of a countless number of male infants from Bethlehem! Indeed, I can see how many would view his death as a time of celebration, rather than a time to mourn. Fortunately, Herod’s sons did not carry out his wishes to execute the distinguished men.

Herod’s death is believed by medical scholars to have been caused from chronic kidney failure, accompanied by gangrene. Such a condition would have caused excruciating pain, and I’m not sure anyone would have cared. To live a life of such position and influence only to be so hated and despised is such a waste, but that is exactly what evil will produce. Anything from the Devil will destroy our lives and spread his agenda. Herod gave his soul to evil influence, and it profited him nothing in the end. If only he had really sought Jesus to worship him as the wise men did, his life could have had a greater ending.

Your time on earth is temporary, and you will certainly encounter evil while you are here. Determine to seek Jesus and worship Him. The innocent will die, and the madmen will reign, but God is still in control. His plan is still in place, and no one will deter it. He will bring an end to the madness, and His Son will one day rule. Until then, keep the faith. Through sadness, sorrow, and despair, know that Jesus is coming, and His reign will be worth it all!

Have a blessed day!