Angry with Evil

Do you ever get angry when something bad happens to someone else? Trust me, I've made plenty of my own messes and have caused others heartache. Sometimes I have been the cause. But as I was reading for my devotions today, I was reminded of other's heartache.

Matthew 2:16 Then 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.”

Can you imagine the pain of those mothers and fathers in Bethlehem?

Evil makes me angry.

Just this week I read about the killings of refugees hiding in a church in Kenya. I just don't understand why people would kill their own. And I really don't understand the killing of children. But today my reading also covered Genesis and I was reminded that the killing and evil began a long time ago.

These kinds of things increase my desire to see God's kingdom come. Some day the Judge will bring justice. I'm looking forward to that day. But for now, I'm thankful for His grace.

Grace has been around a long time too...

25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed [14] for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” 26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.

Lord, forgive me for the evil that I have participated in. Please help me to hunger and thirst for your righteousness and your kingdom. Thank you for your grace.