Journey on the Ancient Path – The Way of the Shepherd

Chapter 12 – The Wrath of Herod

In this chapter, a terrible tragedy occurs in the little town of Bethlehem; the killing of the innocent babies by King Herod. This event is called ‘The Massacre of the Innocents’. This chapter shows how wicked man can be, apart from the grace of God. Why do bad things happen to good people; that is the question. But, we must ask ourselves what should we do, and how should we react, when terrible things happen to us or people we know. Samuel has the answer to these questions.

Thought Provoking Journey:

• When the innocent babies in Bethlehem were killed, what did the families in Bethlehem think and how did they feel? Did they blame God? 
• Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?
• Since the fall of man and the promise that the ‘seed of the women’, through a descendent of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, would bruise the head of the serpent (the enemy of God, also known as Satan), evil people have tried to annihilate the Jewish people. In over 4,000 years of human history, no other people group has been so mistreated.