Advent Day 10: Oppression Overcome

A royal decree: Kill the Hebrew baby boys. All of them.

Throw them in the river. Kill them when they are born. Whatever has to be done to stop them from threatening our way of life. Just. get. rid. of. them.

People are threatened by groups of people who see things differently than they do. As the Pharoah, this was the easiest way to assure they would not outgrow the culture they were in. It is called oppression. It isn’t good. It wasn’t the first time people were oppressed, and it wouldn’t be the last.

And so...one tiny baby was hidden.

And so...one tiny baby, when they could hide him no more... was placed into a basket and sent down a river. As a last hope. A hope to escape the terrible outcome of a dark decree.

The face of an infant, a light in a princess’ heart, and the plan of God.

Moses was saved...so that he could one day save a people from their oppressors.

A royal decree: Kill the Hebrew baby boys. All of them.

All the babies under two. Kill them with the sword. Town by town. Whatever has to be done to make sure that one child...the Child Who Will Be King...is dead.

Again a threat. Fear that one man’s power could be taken away. That things might change and knock him from the throne.

And so they were warned in a dream...

And so they took their baby boy away...as a hope to escape the terrible outcome of a dark decree.

The face of an infant, a light in the magi’s hearts, and the plan of God.

Jesus was saved...so that He could one day save a people from their oppression.

There hasn’t been a royal decree like this for a long long time. We aren’t told to kill our children. They aren’t ripped from our arms as soldiers come door to door with loaded guns.

But oppression. It is still here. It exists in the hearts of a troubled soul. It exists in the cultural lies that are threatened by the Light. It exists in the sins that surround, bind, and kill.

The One who was saved would soon be condemned again. Only this time he wouldn't run or hide. His death would be the final blow to oppression. He has won. No one will take away his power. Only a little longer and the Light of His triumph will outshine the darkest corner of every nation. His Light will outshine the darkest corner of your heart.