Herod, the king of the Jews, met with the people of Tyre and Sidon, now part of Lebanon in the northern part of Israel. The people of Tyre and Sidon wanted to make peace with Herod because they got their food from Israel. During the day when Herod was at the feast to honor the emperor Claudius of Rome, he dressed in royal apparel, sat on his throne, and delivered a public address to the people. While he was speaking, the people shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck Herod down because he did not give glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died. The word of God continued to spread after his death, and many people believed in the Lord Jesus. Barnabas and Paul returned to Antioch with John Mark after they delivered the famine relief to Jerusalem. (Acts 12:20-25).
Before Herod died, he was against Christianity. He killed James, one of the apostles, and tried to kill Peter, but God rescued Peter from prison. Herod continued to lift himself as god and did not honor God in everything he did. He did not realize that no matter how he lifted himself up, his very existence was still in the hands of God, His maker. Even today, we can see many influential and powerful people against God. They try to stop Christians' beliefs through intimidation and persecution. However, there will be a day when God will deal with them once and for all. No matter what the people claim to be, it does not affect who God is. Our God still sits on His throne and holds the very existence of humans.
The reason God has not judged the world with sin yet is that He still gives the unbelievers a chance to believe in Him so they can be saved from His judgment. 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." The unbelievers still have a chance to repent as long as the Lord has not brought his final judgment on this world. However, there will come a day when God will bring His judgment on this earth, and those who chose to reject Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be judged by God forever in hell.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully and meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you). Do I believe that God is still in control despite all the evil that is happening around me? Do I completely trust God with my security and future? How should I live knowing that God is in control of the existence of human beings?
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, no matter how this world is against you and your truth, you are still God and in control of the existence of every human being. I live and breathe because you allow me to. I pray for those still rejecting Jesus as their Lord and Savior will come to repentance and believe in Jesus so that they may not perish but have eternal life in you. Please help me to trust you completely with my life, security, and future. In your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.