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This morning I have been contemplating the darker side of the Christmas Story.
Matthew 2:18
"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.

 
This takes place right after Herod in a rage of jealousy at the thought that there is a NEW KING born in Bethlehem (who threatens Herod’s dynasty), sends out his soldiers to destroy all male infant children in the region.  What a horrible image.  It doesn’t take much exposure to tragedy to enable one to be able to imagine this event.

Now, this event was announced in advance by the prophet (possibly as many as 1000 years ahead of time?)!
Jeremiah 31:15
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 her children are no more."


Why oh why is this story tied to Rachel?  While I believe that this region was settled by the direct descendants of the Tribes of Rachel’s two sons, I don’t know the answer to this question.  I have sometimes, however, wondered if there is a connection between what I am about to share and what happened.  But this is one of those speculations that will (and should) remain stranded in that barren wilderness between FACT and HYPOTHESIS until the Lord returns.  Remember, in Genesis (chapter 31), Rachel is the favored wife of Jacob (Israel).  On their hasty departure from her father, Laban, Rachel steals a bunch of her father’s idols off the shelf as they run out the door.  He chases them all day and finally catches them, and demands to know why Jacob was running off with his daughters (without saying good-bye), and why Jacob stole his idols (Gods).  Jacob swears that he, nor anyone with him, stole the idols and pronounces a curse of death upon anyone who did.  He does not know that his favorite wife Rachel is in her tent sitting on the ground hiding the idols under her skirt, lying that she is having her monthly cycle (so she cannot stand up) to hide her transgression.

Then, after Laban departs, and some time after their journey continues, she goes into labor giving birth to her son Benjamin, and dies in the process.  This story is ripe with irony.  Jacob the master of deception (lied to his father over his identity to secure his blessing) – who reaped horrible deception from his children (regarding the alleged death of his son Joseph), now becomes the victim (at the loss of his wife) over action that might be tied to her deception of her father?  Is there a link to her having hid these idols under her skirt to her having died giving child birth?  Does it not say that the “wages of sin is death”?

Wow…….and in closing my speculations, is there a possible connection between all of this and the slaughter of these children in Ramah?  Is Rachel (in the GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES), weeping because she now sees some link between her transgression and so much devastation to her descendants?  Or is she weeping over the senseless pain committed by such random acts of VIOLANCE?

I suspect many opinions abound regarding such things.  A couple of things are certain:
            1.  Evil like that which was committed by Herod abounds in this world.
            2.  We do ourselves well to take heed of the adverse influences that can arise out of our sin.
            3.  There are MANY MOM’s today who mourn for the loss of their children at this holiday season (for a multitude of reasons).  We should be sensitive to their plight and pray for them and maintain compassion for them.

We should make the most of every opportunity to bring the JOY of this infant child, Jesus, into their lives and the lives of everyone around us.

Lord, grant us the grace to do these things, and grant mercy and great grace to Mom’s wherever they are, right now who are mourning this holiday season for their children!

God bless,
Dale



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    My name is Dale Petersen.  I love life, photography, art, music, and pizza.  I enjoy writing poetry, and I love to contemplate.  I like to encourage people in their faith journeys, and I am told that my writing has helped some friends and I have been encouraged to blog.

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