Living Room Study

MATTHEW 2

“So Joseph got up, took the child and His mother and entered the land of Israel.  But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea, in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.  And being warned in a dream, he withdrew to the region of Galilee.  Then he went and settled in a town called Nazareth to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets, that He will be called a Nazarene.”  Matthew 2: 21-23

My father recently retired from the oil business.  One of the drawbacks of my dad’s job was that we moved around a lot.  By the time I entered 5^th grade, I had lived in 5 different cities.

The Lord was preparing me to serve Him as an adult.  Every time we moved meant a whole new set of experiences.  I often draw from those experiences whenever I communicate the gospel. ..as I’m doing right now! 

My dad has told me that if he could do it all over again, he would have just stayed in one town and raised his family in a more “sheltered” environment.  That plan was well intended and may have seemed right to my dad, but it would not have prepared me for God’s unique call on my life.

I believe Joseph had a plan to take the young Messiah straight to Jerusalem.  We know this because the scripture says that Joseph was headed straight for Judea.  We also know that Jerusalem is in Judea, and the angel told Joseph & Mary that Jesus was the Messiah. 

Anyone who knew the Torah…especially a Judean like Joseph…would know that all the great Jewish kings were enthroned in Jerusalem.  This is a similar situation to Joseph’s errant, yet well intended plans to quietly divorce Mary.   The Lord intervened. 

“There is a way that seems right unto man, the end thereof are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 14: 12

Had Joseph done what seemed right to him and decided to settle in Jerusalem, Jesus would never have survived all the vicious, exploitative opportunistic self-seekers swarming around Jerusalem.  Can you imagine someone boasting, “I taught the Messiah all He knows…buy my book.”?

Did God have a plan for Jesus in Jerusalem?  Yes.  Did Joseph understand from the Scriptures that Jesus’ ministry would eventually wind up in Jerusalem?  Yes.  Did Joseph comprehend all that needed to happen between Jesus’ boyhood and His manhood?  Nope. 

We may not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.  God doesn’t usually unfold His plans to us.  He simply asks us to trust Him, seek Him daily, and to follow His leading.

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins