Your Children Will Return – Part 4
August 25, 2008
Dear Friends,
People often dismiss circumstantial evidence as “lesser evidence” versus other types of evidence such as an eye witness account. However, circumstantial evidence can be weighty. By way of example, suppose you are in your house one night and you hear the sound of raindrops on your rooftop and thunder. You go out in the morning and there are puddles on the ground and the grass is wet. You never actually saw it rain, but the circumstantial evidence is compelling and convincing. There is a somewhat strange passage in the Gospels which leaves us scratching our heads if we don’t do a bit of cross reference work. We read this odd account in Matthew.
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. (Matt. 2:16-18)
This is one of those passages that if we just quickly race past it we are left with the impression that God just places random and seemingly meaningless prophetic predictions in the Bible just so that He can later fulfill them. This connection is so tenuous that many have suggested that there is no substantial connection at all. One skeptic wrote “this verse refers to the Babylonian captivity, as is clear by reading the next two verses (16 and 17), and, thus, has nothing to do with Herod’s massacre.” Yet, we would contend that the context of the verse is the very key to seeing the connection. In fact, you will find that many times in the New Testament when a verse in the Old Testament is quoted, you will never get the true meaning from the verse itself but only by going back and searching the verses surrounding the quoted Old Testament verse.
If we stop and look at this in greater detail, we have an extremely powerful exhortation for parents of dead children. Why does God take the time to point out that the death of the infants in Bethlehem in Herod’s vain effort to kill Jesus was a fulfillment of a prophecy of Jeremiah? We won’t know that answer until we know what Jeremiah prophesied. I would suggest that this quote from Jeremiah is, in effect, the same as Jesus telling the widow of Nain to “weep not.” There can only be one reason to “weep not” for the parent of a deceased child and that is simply that they are restored again.
In this quote, I want you to determine what age is being spoken of in the text. As our skeptic pointed out, the context bears out a fulfillment in Jeremiah’s time. However, if we read it carefully, is there any doubt that there is not also a fulfillment in both Christ’s day and in the Kingdom age? Also, what is the benefit being conferred to the parents? I am not trying to force fit an idea into a passage, you determine for yourself what God is trying to tell us in this passage which is later quoted in the New Testament concerning deceased children. In Jeremiah 31:10-17 (NIV), we read the following.
“Hear the word of the LORD, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’ For the LORD will ransom Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they. They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD- the grain, the new wine and the oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty,” declares the LORD. 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.” This is what the LORD says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD. “They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your future,” declares the LORD. “Your children will return to their own land.”
We know from the context of this passage that at least part of it was fulfilled in Jeremiah’s day. We know from the inspired words of Matthew that at least part of it was fulfilled in Jesus’ day. However, the first thing that struck me about this passage is that there are just some things that could not ultimately be fulfilled in the days of Jeremiah or Jesus’ day. Is there any other possible fulfillment of “they will sorrow no more” outside of the coming Kingdom of God on earth? How can there be any other reasonable fulfillment of these murdered children in Bethlehem returning “to their own land” and “from the land of the enemy” outside of resurrection?
Why the mention of Rachel? What does she have to do with anything? We know why Rachel is mentioned in this passage if we know the story of Rachel and what the passage is teaching. Her son Joseph was “dead” but resurrected when his brothers discovered him in Egypt. Her son Benjamin was “dead” by having the money found in his sack, but was resurrected by a compassionate brother. Can we not see in these types and shadows the resurrection of our own children by our compassionate older brother, the Lord Jesus Christ?
This wonderful passage has three fulfillments. It speaks of the return of the people from Babylon in the days of Jeremiah. It next speaks of the fulfillment in Christ’s day when innocent babies less than three years old were massacred and the mourning of their parents. It also deals with the future Kingdom of God on earth because it tells those mourning mother’s of Bethlehem that their children will return from the land of the enemy. There is no need to weep. The Bible is telling us that in the Kingdom, these small murdered toddlers from Bethlehem are going to come again from the “land of the enemy.” We know where that land is and who the enemy is! “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” (1Co 15:26) These parents can find comfort. By faith, they can look forward to a day in which they can “refrain thy voice from weeping.”
Yes, faithful brothers and sisters, the God of Israel does give us hope and comfort in our time of need. We have this promise – “thy children shall come again.”
Have a great week,
