Death of the first borns

Exodus 12:28 click here for the reading

Looking into Herod's killing of the innocence and the Holy Family's escape to Egypt, we are prompted to a familiar story in Exodus.  The death of the first borns in Egypt as one of the plagues that released God's people from their place of Slavery.  Now the family of God is headed back to that same place to seek refuge from a different political tyrant. The similarities are obvious and confusing.


Political tyrant: Pharaoh & Herod
Killing of innocent children: by God and by Herod
Protection provided to: Hebrews & Jesus family
reason: freedom from slavery & freedom from death


This story relates to the slaughter of the innocence in Matthew 2 because it reminds us that the incarnational reality of Jesus being born to be God with us, does not give him a free pass from the evils and trial violence of this world.


Jesus does not escape the slaughter of the innocence but God provides a passover for Jesus and the Holy Family for this time.  Because Jesus ultimately will suffer from the death of innocence.  Pilate will say he has found no fault in him, Jesus was blameless and sinless, and yet he dies on the cross for us.


Lord, in the ways you show up in the world that we cannot understand, reveal to us your willingness to go into the deep dark places and death of innocent children of our own world to see you at work in the redemption of all that you have created.