In a prior article we focused on the unexpected blessing and angel visit Joseph received because he took a breath before taking an action; thereby serving as a reminder of the benefits to be derived by all of us when we follow suit. Today we are going to consider how God used Joseph as a pivotal entity in guiding his family. It is notable that Mary had an audience only once with an angelic messenger. After Joseph’s initial contact with the angel, he was the liaison for all future communications—God’s spokesperson. Herod was on a murdering rampage after being rebuffed by the Wise Men. When they failed to provide him with the information of Jesus’ whereabouts, he had all male children under the age of 2 killed. In a dream, Joseph was warned by an angel to flee from Bethlehem to Egypt thereby securing their safety. See Matthew 2:13-14: “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:”
Matthew 2:13-14 Meaning
Then again in Matthew 2:19-20 an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream notifying him of Herod’s death: “But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.”
He is told they can now leave Egypt and return to Israel. And finally in verse 22 Joseph is advised to not settle in Judah because Herod’s son was now ruling there: “But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:”
But instead to go to the region of Galilee and they established residency in the town of Nazareth.
As mentioned previously, Joseph was as much a chosen parent as Mary—he was as important a component in Jesus’ upbringing as she. And he had the privilege of fathering God’s only Son during His formative years. We know Joseph was a carpenter and influenced the boy Jesus to follow in his footsteps.
Matthew 13:55 speaking of Jesus reads: “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?”
Mark 6:3 tells us that when Jesus was teaching in his home town of Nazareth the people were astonished and said: “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.”
One might say, “Like father, like son.” But then of necessity we must also say, “Life Father, like Son.” Jesus was their son—God’s and Joseph’s.
Just as God needed an earthling in the person of Joseph to facilitate His plan, so He needs mere mortals today to aid in the achievement of His Heavenly program. He requires of us intercessory prayers, petitioning on our behalf as well as for others. He compels us to be His emissaries in ministering to the down cast, the physically and emotionally needy, the hopeless.
In addition, we are to demonstrate His love to our fellow man in our daily interactions. We know that God depends on each Christian to be His representative and to portray His character to those that inhabit our personal world. And to share the good news of the Gospel.
Until we sit down together for our next visit, continue living before God’s face.
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- Matthew 2:13-14 Meaning: A Joint Effort - September 10, 2024
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- Matthew 9:9-13 Meaning: So What is This About Matthew? - August 20, 2024
