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Baptists/Matthew 2: Slaughter of the Innocents

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Expert: - 1/3/2006


Question
Why did God allow the slaughter of the babies in Matthew 2?  Also how many were approximately killed? Thanks for your quick response. I trust you.  

Answer
Hi Will,
    The Bible does not say how many babies were killed by Herod.  Many believe that it was not a great number, because Bethlehem was not a large city.  However, the killing of any children was a tragic.
    As to why did God allow it?   God has given each of us a free will to make decisions about the things in our lives.    He allows us to do wrong and right.  Of course His desire is that we do what is right (righteous) and follow His word as given in the Bible.   
    All men have a sinful nature that tempts them to do wrong and Herod in pride and to protect his throne killed not only the babies under two years old in Bethlehem, but also his own children as well.   He was a evil man.
    God does not force us to believe in Him and accept Him as our Lord and Savior.   He does not force us to love and obey His good instructions to us.    If He did that we would be only robots that could onlly do what we are programed to do.  Robots cannot love or feel emotion or have intellegnce and make decisions. God wants us to love Him live righteous lives because we know that is best for us.   Thus God made us free agents, and He explains to us who He is and His plan of salvation, that we might have forgiveness of sins and eternal life....and He lets us decide to believe and accept HIm or not.   He does not force Himself on us because God loves us and respects our will.  

    But there is a bright side to the matter of the infants that were killed by Herod....babies and children under the age of accountiblity are under the blood of Jesus Christ and when they die God takes them to heaven.   So whatever the number of children killed in Bethlehem was, they were all taken to heaven.   God is a loving God to us.   
   I hope this helps to explain this.  If you have further questions please write again.
Cooper Abrams
Romans 12:102
http://bible-truth.org

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Cooper P. Abrams III

Expertise

Independent Fundamental Baptist missionary and pastor, ThB, MBS. I began pastoring in 1981, and have taught in churches, a Bible college, and a Bible Institute. I have written numerous articles on various subjects from a biblical perspective and many are posted on my web site Bible Truth ( http://www.bible-truth.org ). Bible Truth receives over sixty thousand visits per month. Since 1998 I have answered Bible related questions via e-mail. My answers are straight forward and biblical. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE -----DO NOT ASK A QUESTION AND THEN NOT READ THE ANSWER! ABOUT FOUR IN TEN QUESTIONS ASKED ARE NEVER READ. I FREELY GIVE MY TIME TO GIVE HELPFUL ANSWERS. OFTEN THE ANSWER WILL REQUIRE AS MUCH AS A HOUR OR MORE TO RESEARCH AND THEN TO FORMULATE THE REPLY. IF YOU SEND A QUESTION PLEASE BE THOUGHTFUL ENOUGH TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT. MOST PEOPLE DO...BUT ALL SHOULD. THANKS

Experience

I have been a pastor since 1981 and a Independent Baptist missionary church planter since 1986. I have seen the Lord establish four Bible believing churches in Utah. My web site Bible Truth ( http:\\bible-truth.org ) continues to grow presently over 60,000 visits per month. The materials on the web site are mostly written by myself and contain sermons, Bible commentaries, articles on various biblical subjects.

Publications
- Appeared on Grizzly Adams DVD documentary "End Times: How Close Are We?" (http://www.grizzlyadams.com/Public/ChristianDVDs/index.cfm?productID=49). - Article "Are Mormons Christians" "O Timothy Magazine" Way of Life Literature (http://www.wayoflife.org/files/9959c77e05b303248173195e72476459-60.html)

Education/Credentials
ThB and MBS from Piedmont Baptist College, Winston-Salem, NC

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