Promises Kept
How are we supposed to feel about Herod's decision to behead John the Baptist?
At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus. - Matthew 14:1-12
The way Matthew wrote about the incident, you might get the impression that Herod had a heart.
He didn't want to kill John, but he felt compelled to do so, because he had blurted out a promise that his wife and daughter took advantage of.
Should we feel the same way about the leaders of Hamas who promised the land from the river to the sea for the Palestinian people?
You make a promise and you are forced to keep it by your own pride and ego.
Herod had a moment of remorse, perhaps, not because killing was something he wouldn't do, but because he liked having John around.
But there comes a time when your actions have to catch up with your words, and for Herod, that time had come.
The time has come also for the words of Hamas. We hear them chanted across the globe as thousands, millions, are mobilized.
No longer is the call for peace or a two state solution. It is now a call for death, and that call is like a net that will scoop up nations.
Like Herod, the leaders of Hamas are far away from the center of action, up in their protected towers, safe from the war they started.
I wonder. If someone brought the severed head of a child to the leaders of Hamas in Qatar, would there have been an ounce of remorse?
If there is any hope for humanity left, I would pray that there would be.
More to come...