Excessive Efforts at Excision
Fear and power always lead to tyranny. Pharaoh's decision to execute new-born babies exhibits complete and utter evil. Not only is the boy-child condemned to death, but the girl-child is condemned to slavery and abuse - this is, in fact, a living death. This is about the extinction of a nation.
It is exceedingly significant that, at the outset of the "Second Exodus," Jesus' life would also be threatened by infanticide. Herod's decision, like Pharaoh's, is a fear-based abuse of power and authority. And Jesus Himself is victimised by fear amplified by power.
While it would be easy to write a lot about tyranny and why it is so utterly evil, I'd like to focus on where tyranny starts because, in big and small ways we can be tyrants ourselves.
Fear is the lever that turns powerful people into tyrants.
And I'm going to leave it just there...
What power does fear have over you...?
What power does fear have over you...?
| Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: "Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live." |
