What Jesus Did : Matthew 2:14-15 - This One Always Obeys
by Phil Ware
This One Always Obeys - Matthew 2:14-15
So Joseph got up and left for Egypt with the baby and the baby's mother. They left during the night. Joseph stayed in Egypt until Herod died. This happened to make clear the full meaning of what the Lord said through the prophet. The Lord said, "I called my son to come out of Egypt." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
God moves in mysterious ways and uses common people to do his work and accomplish his will. The connection between an Old Testament reference and its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus depends upon Joseph's doing what God asked him to do in the middle of the night. While we know so very little about Joseph, one thing we do know: when God asked him to do the unthinkable, the crazy, and the unheard of, he didn't argue or hesitate; he obeyed. Not once, but repeatedly. I don't know about you, but I hope that I can have the courage and faith to be that bold and obedient!
Today's Prayer
Give me courage and faith, O LORD, to trust and obey as Joseph did. Humble me gently, dear Father, until my pride gives way to one truth: "No matter what God asks, this one always obeys." Father, I make this request in the name of Jesus, who lived and died to be obedient to your will and save me from my sins. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
After the wise men left, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, "Get up! Take the baby and his mother and escape to Egypt. Herod will start looking for the baby. Herod wants to kill him. So stay in Egypt until I tell you {it is safe}." So Joseph got up and left for Egypt with the baby and the baby's mother. They left during the night. Joseph stayed in Egypt until Herod died. This happened to make clear the full meaning of what the Lord said through the prophet. The Lord said, "I called my son to come out of Egypt." Herod saw that the wise men had fooled him. Herod was very, very angry. So Herod gave an order to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and in all the area around Bethlehem. Herod had learned from the wise men the time {the baby was born}. It was now two years from that time. So Herod said to kill all the boys that were two years old and younger. So the thing God said through the prophet Jeremiah happened: "A sound was heard in Ramah. It was bitter crying and much sadness. Rachel cries for her children; and she cannot be comforted, because her children are dead." After Herod died, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream. This happened while Joseph was in Egypt. The angel said, "Get up! Take the baby and his mother and go to Israel. The people that were trying to kill the baby are now dead." So Joseph took the baby and the baby's mother and went to Israel. But Joseph heard that Archelaus was now king in Judea. Archelaus became king when his father Herod died. So Joseph was afraid to go there. Joseph was warned in a dream. So Joseph left there and went to the area of Galilee. Joseph went to a town called Nazareth and lived there. And so the thing happened that God said through the prophets. God said that {the Christ} would be called a Nazarene.-- Matthew 2:13-23 (ERV)
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