Wednesday, July 19: “Irrational Dependence”
Acts 12: 20: “Now [Herod] was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because their country was fed by the king’s country.”
Traditionally the twin cities of Tyre and Sidon had been independently prosperous seaports. Somehow it seemed rational to become dependent upon the seemingly omnipotent Roman Empire and its local representation, Herod. Until they somehow angered him. And until he angered the Lord, Who struck him down and made him worm food (v. 13). Perhaps they should have pledged their allegiance to Jesus, Who had previously delivered a young girl among them from an evil spirit (Matthew 15: 21-28)
