Who is God? Master Strategist - Champion of Restraint - Undaunted - Able to Refuse Tempting Revenge

The 1.73-second stare at the person on the magazine cover was all I could handle. Thief. Liar. Friends and family know me as shy and quiet, but this introvert was fuming and about to cause a scene. REAL trouble was about to unfold in the grocery store check-out line. Looking back over my shoulder, I made sure no one was watching. In one swift motion, I… flipped the magazine over! The back cover, now peeking through the thin wire rack, displayed an innocent makeup ad. I gazed forward, holding my best Clint Eastwood stare, wondering if the cashier noticed my brazen behavior. I steadied my stance; the words “make my day” on the tip of my tongue. The man bagging my groceries looked at me. My piercing eyes met his. In a booming voice, he called, “WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR MILK IN A BAG?”  

Me and my not-in-a-bag 2% milk felt slightly better, but not much. With no further criminal acts, I scooped up the rest of my groceries and headed to my car, still seething. What else could I do besides pray and flip over magazines? Only God could intervene in the life of this person who made me so angry. Benjamin Franklin once wrote, 'In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." I have an addition: people resolute in doing evil. And when these men or women temporarily succeed in their straight-from-the-pit-of-hell plans, we’re left feeling full of rage, grief-stricken, and powerless. Of all people who walked the earth, Jesus certainly wasn’t helpless in ANY situation. I suppose that’s what struck me so profoundly when I studied Jesus’ response to an extraordinarily wicked woman named Herodias.

The Ditch and Switch Dance

Herodias, granddaughter of Herod the Great, was married to her uncle, Herod Philip. However, in her eyes, Philip’s half-brother, Antipas, appeared “better,” and for whatever reason (more money and power may have had something to do with it), she ditched her first marriage. Jewish historian Josephus said, “Herodias took upon her to confound the laws of our country and divorced herself from her husband while he was alive and was married to Herod Antipas” - not a proper thing to do in Ancient Rome. One righteous man had the guts to call her out on it: John the Baptist.

John the Baptist called Jesus not only a friend, but family (or as close to an earthly family as the virgin-born Christ could get). Luke 1:36 tells us John’s mother, Elizabeth, was Mary’s relative. John had the honor of baptizing the Messiah, plus, he fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy: “I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare the way for you….” John’s work as a forerunner of the Good News made it possible for Jesus to start His own ministry. Without question, Jesus had a strong bond with John.  

John embodied fearlessness. His public rebuke of Antipas and his new wife landed him in prison, according to Matthew 14:3. While John is tied up in some dungeon, Antipas throws himself a birthday party. During the revelry, Herodias’ daughter danced for the guests. Antipas, delighted (and likely drunk) offered his step-daughter “anything she wanted.” The vengeful mother seized her chance at revenge. Herodias convinced her daughter to ask for John’s head. With one unjust swipe of a blade, this wicked woman sashayed to her own victory dance.

Let it Go…

Jesus had a lion’s share of earthly struggle and sadness, yet, by His word, demons fled, the sick were healed, and even the dead rose to life! A fig tree withered at His rebuke, and deadly storm clouds transformed into clear skies when He spoke. Water became solid ground under His feet. Angel regiments by the tens of thousands stood ready for His command. Was Jesus not absolutely enraged when He learned of John’s unfair and cruel murder? I honestly believe so, but unlike the fig tree, Herodias continued to enjoy posh palace life.

Matthew 14:13 says, "When Jesus heard about John, He left in a boat and went to a place where He could be alone." Scripture is silent on His thoughts during that boat ride. Jesus had all authority and power to call hell, fire, and brimstone down on one woman’s deservedly pompous head. One word from Jesus and anything from a deadly disease or a foreign army could have wiped out Antipas and his entire family. So why didn’t He? I asked God and waited. It's funny how, at times, when I ask God a question, He will answer me with another question. I sensed Holy Spirit say, One Herodias, or all of them? 

Jesus may have realized He had two options. Option one: Command just one angel to action, and the best poetic justice known to man would have ensued, swallowing Herodias whole in one gulp. Even so, would this compromise the cross? Would the Pharisees (knowing full well about John’s execution) have followed through with arresting Jesus if they saw an immediate, deadly retaliation on Antipas’ household? Option two took astounding self-control: Let her go because ultimately, Your sacrifice will give the church everything it needs to take out the wicked schemes of every “Herodias” (male or female) who walks the planet from 1AD to 2033…and beyond!

True Grit Without a Winn-Dixie

If choosing “door number 2” wasn’t hard enough, Jesus’ next move exemplified true grit (John Wayne would have agreed). Matthew 14:14 says, “When Jesus got out of the boat, He saw a large crowd. He felt sorry for them and cured their sick people.” Some may argue Jesus knew about John’s impending death and didn’t stop it when He could have. I don’t know. What I do know is Jesus, surely sad and furious, kept going. He didn’t let any act of the devil derail Him. He kept right on doing what He was supposed to do with an undaunted, undeterred focus despite His grief. And when 5,000 plus people gathered around Him were hungry for dinner with no Kroger or Winn-Dixie down the road, He miraculously multiplied a child’s meal, so everyone ate their fill.

Coffee and Consequences

What about Herodias, the woman responsible for untold evil? No official document details the end of her life. Historians say she and her husband were exiled to Lugdunum (on today’s map, Lyon, France) because of political fallout, but it is unclear if she lived out her final days in pain or luxury. The latter is more likely. On May 14, 2021, in Kentucky, as I sit here and drink my café latte, it doesn’t matter. She received her due about 30 seconds after taking her last breath.

What does matter is Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection three days later. He could have easily risen in power, becoming the greatest earthly king, no doubt surpassing King Solomon’s splendor. Still, this option would have only saved one generation. The heavenly throne He achieved through His torturous death saved His own generation and continues to this day, saving us all. Jesus paid an astronomical price to conquer death and give us His Holy Spirit. By the Spirit, the Master Strategist provides all we need to overcome every liar and thief, every single plan of the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms,” every Herodias…all of them.

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