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- Oct 26, 2007
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Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. Acts 12:23 NKJV
Some scriptures just bring out a man’s inner eight-year-old. Eww, gross! We think, with a gleam in our eyes. Death by flesh-eating worms is some of the nastiest imagery in the whole Bible. (Though 2 Kings 18:27 is right up there too.)
All joking aside, this account of Herod’s demise should encourage us today. Strange as it may seem, it’s a story of God’s knowledge, power, and justice.
Herod Agrippa I, grandson of the Herod who tried to kill baby Jesus, persecuted the early church. He ordered the death of John’s brother James, who became the first of the Twelve to be martyred. Herod then arrested Peter, with plans to kill him too. After Peter was miraculously sprung from prison, Herod had the hapless guards executed.
Then God said, “Enough.”
As Herod made a lordly speech in the region of Tyre and Sidon, which depended on him for food, the people shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man” (Acts 12:22). Apparently, Herod enjoyed that—for a split second. Then God dropped the hammer on him.
Nobody ultimately gets away with murder—literally or figuratively. God will make sure that justice is served.
Prayer: Lord God, the injustice of this world is appalling. May I trust You to make everything right, in Your perfect time.
Some scriptures just bring out a man’s inner eight-year-old. Eww, gross! We think, with a gleam in our eyes. Death by flesh-eating worms is some of the nastiest imagery in the whole Bible. (Though 2 Kings 18:27 is right up there too.)
All joking aside, this account of Herod’s demise should encourage us today. Strange as it may seem, it’s a story of God’s knowledge, power, and justice.
Herod Agrippa I, grandson of the Herod who tried to kill baby Jesus, persecuted the early church. He ordered the death of John’s brother James, who became the first of the Twelve to be martyred. Herod then arrested Peter, with plans to kill him too. After Peter was miraculously sprung from prison, Herod had the hapless guards executed.
Then God said, “Enough.”
As Herod made a lordly speech in the region of Tyre and Sidon, which depended on him for food, the people shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man” (Acts 12:22). Apparently, Herod enjoyed that—for a split second. Then God dropped the hammer on him.
Nobody ultimately gets away with murder—literally or figuratively. God will make sure that justice is served.
Prayer: Lord God, the injustice of this world is appalling. May I trust You to make everything right, in Your perfect time.
