The Sheer Sweetness of Slaughtered Innocents: Why I Marvel at God's Chosen Deliverance
Okay, friends, let’s talk about something that’s been on my heart lately. It’s something that, honestly, used to make me a little uncomfortable, but the more I’ve studied and prayed about it, the more I see the sheer sweetness woven into its very core: God’s deliverance, even when it looks like utter chaos and tragedy.
I'm talking about the times in the Bible when, well, innocent people were caught in the crossfire. Like the plagues in Egypt, particularly the tenth one, where the firstborn of each household died (Exodus 12:29). It's brutal, I know. At first glance, it seems unfair, almost monstrous. I remember struggling with this. How could a loving God allow such a thing? I even told my Bible study group that I felt queasy when reading that passage. Some nodded, but one of the older women, Mrs. Henderson, simply smiled and said, “Oh, dear, it’s all about perspective. Think about what it did for God's chosen people!” And you know what? She was right.
What we often forget is that these were not random acts. These were, in a way, acts of deliverance. Think about it, Israel was enslaved, suffering terribly under Pharaoh's cruel rule. They cried out to God, and He heard them. (Exodus 2:23-25). The slaughter of the Egyptian firstborn, while a tragic event in itself, was ultimately the catalyst for Israel’s liberation. It was the moment that finally broke Pharaoh’s stubborn resistance and freed God's people from bondage. It was a necessary, albeit horrifying, step towards a greater good, towards the freedom and fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham.
I relate to this in my own life. There have been times when I’ve gone through things that felt utterly devastating at the time, like when I lost my job a couple of years back. I remember feeling so lost and confused, like I had no purpose. For a while, I even questioned God’s plan for me. It felt like everything I had worked for was gone. But, looking back, that experience forced me to reconsider my career goals and seek new opportunities, leading me to the job that I have now, which I love and find so much more fulfilling. It was painful, it was hard, but ultimately, it led me to where God intended for me to be. It was a kind of "slaughter" of my old life that led to a new and better one, if that makes any sense.
It's kind of like pruning a rose bush. It might look brutal at first, snipping off all those branches, but it's necessary for the plant to flourish and bloom. God knows what He's doing, even when we don't understand it. He sees the bigger picture, the end result, and sometimes, that result requires drastic measures.
It's not easy to reconcile the idea of a loving God allowing suffering, but I’ve come to realize that sometimes, the sweetest mercies emerge from the darkest moments. And through these stories, whether from the Bible or my own life, I've learned to trust that, even when it feels like the worst is happening, God is still working, and He is still good.
We can see this echoed in countless places in the Old Testament. Take the time when the Philistines were attacking. Israel turned to God and He allowed the Philistines to attack, making them seem like they were going to destroy Israel (1 Samuel 4). This created a turning point, and a renewed faith in God. When we are confronted with our weaknesses we have the opportunity to turn to God, and we are better for it!
Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t feel grief or compassion for those who suffer, of course we should. But I am saying that we can also recognize God’s hand in even the most tragic circumstances. We can trust that He has a plan, and that, ultimately, it will all work out for the good (Romans 8:28). It’s a message of hope, not despair.
So, as you go about your week, I encourage you to look for God’s hand in the difficult times. Reflect on how the "slaughter" in your life might actually be leading to something beautiful. What trials have you faced that, looking back, have been a blessing in disguise?