David Bahn – Reflections

Christmas is over for many folks. The wrappings are in the trash. The batteries for the new toys are half drained; the toys themselves laid aside for other pursuits. Soon decorations from manger scenes to jolly Santa ornaments will be packed away. Real life will slowly begin to emerge once again from the dream land that was Christmas. Where is God in all this?

One thing for certain about God is that he is in the real world. Real life revolves around God. Real life – with all its ups and downs is sustained in God. Real life, with rescues, tragedies, and providential care is grounded in God. See how that is shown in the events that shortly follow Jesus’ birth:

Matthew 2:13-23

¹³Now when [the wise men] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” ¹⁴And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt ¹⁵and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

That’s rescue. It comes from God.

¹⁶Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. ¹⁷ Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
¹⁸ “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”

That’s tragedy. It comes from Satan, the world, and our own sinful flesh. God stands ready to be with us in time of tragedy.

¹⁹But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, ²⁰saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” ²¹And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ²²But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. ²³And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

That’s providence: God is over all, protecting his chosen ones, fulfilling all of his word and promise (Scripture), and sustaining us in all of life.

Christmas may be over for some. But God’s mercy, love and goodness endures forever. We find it always in Jesus. Thanks be to God.