Christmas, 2001

[Dr. Manuel recently provided me with the Christmas letters he and his wife Linda have sent each year since 2001.
One of the annual letters will be posted each day over the next two weeks.]

Dr. and Mrs. Paul Manuel
Christmas 2001

Dear Friends and Family,

As angels announced to the shepherds, Christmas is a joyful time to praise God for His wonderful gift of the messiah.

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
(Luke 2:14)

Recent events, however, have tempered that joy for many. The memories of September 11, still vivid in our minds, the threats of further attacks in this country, as well as the on-going terrorist assaults in Israel, make us wonder if peace is an elusive ideal. Ours, of course, is not the only generation to face this question.

In 701 B.C., the Assyrian army swept through villages in Judah, bringing in its wake destruction to the land and death to the people. Sennacherib, having heard about Judah's refusal to surrender, sought to crush resistance town by town. It was an act of excessive cruelty, and Jeremiah described the anguish of that period for God's people, personified by Rachel.

A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more.
(Jer 31:15)

Those who fled managed to survive, but what future did they have? To them, God offered hope.

Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears.... There is hope for your future.... Your children will return to their own land. (Jer 31:16-17)

Three hundred years later, on a smaller scale but still with devastating results, the Roman army swept through villages in Judea. Herod, having heard about the birth of a Jewish king and wanting to eliminate this potential threat, sought to kill all male children who might fit the description. It was an act of excessive cruelty, and Mathew described the anguish of that period for God's people with familiar words.

A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more. (Matt 2:18)

Those who fled, like Jesus' parents, managed to survive, but what future did they have? To them, God offered hope.

Go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead. (Matt 2:20)

Neither in Jeremiah's day nor in Mathew's day was peace especially evident. On the contrary, peace seemed an elusive ideal. Nevertheless, God encouraged His people with the hope of better times ahead.

Today, as we battle forces that threaten peace, it remains an elusive ideal. We need not flee to survive, but the future is still in doubt. Nevertheless, God encourages us with the hope of better times ahead, hope that begins at Christmas.

For to us a child is born...and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called...Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. (Isa 9:6-7)

No matter how the forces of evil attempt to impose their own version of the future, God has determined a different outcome. May that hope of better times ahead enable you to rejoice and praise God this season for His wonderful gift of the messiah.

Pastor and Linda