There are many accounts of God directing the people in the Christmas story through angelic messages and dreams. Sometimes, don’t you wish God would speak just as clearly to you, too? If you are like me, you may worry and fuss sometimes about how to make the right decisions in your life. By taking a look at Joseph’s life, we may find a few other ways that God directed him, which can be instructional for us, as well.
Now when [the Magi] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.”
He arose and took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Matthew 2:13-15 (WEB)
Every time we see Joseph in the Christmas story, his actions are marked by trust in God and immediate obedience. Even when God’s directions to him are surprising or inconvenient, he trusts that God knows best and he follows His directions. And because of his swift obedience, Jesus’ life is saved several times.
God directed Joseph’s steps in different ways. We often focus on the miraculous dreams God sent him. They were pretty dramatic and required Joseph to act immediately, like in our passage today. But God also used current events to direct Joseph, such as an edict from Caesar, which prompted Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem. In this way the Christ child was born in Bethlehem, fulfilling prophecy.
Joseph was also guided by the scriptures. Because he and Mary followed God’s laws given by Moses, they were in the Temple dedicating Jesus at just the right time to meet Simeon and Anna. These two godly servants of God spoke words of encouragement and prophecy over Jesus and Mary during their “chance” meeting at the Temple. Sometimes God uses the wise words of others to guide us.
At other times, when it appears that God did not give Joseph any specific directions to follow, Joseph made decisions within the confines of the law according to what he thought was best. For instance, it appears that Joseph and Mary decided to stay in Bethlehem after Jesus’ birth. This would have required Joseph to find work in Bethlehem to support his family and a place for them to live. All of this practical activity would be fulfilling his obligation as a husband and father, while being free to decide how best to do this within the talents and abilities God had given him. It would be more than likely that he asked God for favor and help in this endeavor.
When Joseph’s life was punctuated by dramatic events for which he had no opportunity to prepare, like the flight to Egypt, God was already at work well ahead of time. For God sent the Magi with their gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense just in time. This was the financial support Mary and Joseph needed to provide for their unexpected travel and resettlement in Egypt. If the Magi had come sooner, Joseph and Mary may have used their gifts on other things, like a house or to build Joseph’s business. But God’s perfect timing made it crystal clear what those gifts should be used for and why.
In our own lives, we will face times when we seek God’s direction. We may wish God would speak to us as clearly as He did to Joseph through those dreams. And God may. But in Joseph’s life, God reserved those dreams for some pretty intense times in his life. For many decisions in our lives, our daily, faithful obedience to God’s word and scripture will guide us.
And if we run into a more dramatic life event, such as an unexpected relocation, a sudden medical condition, or current events outside of our control, we should ask God to help us trust Him. Ask God for His wisdom. He knew ahead of time what we would be facing. Later in life, when we look back on that event, we may be surprised to see all the ways He led us and used that time for good.
It’s true that life is full of unexpected twists and turns. But God’s faithfulness to us is something we can depend on. May He direct your path as you trust in Him.
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,
and don’t lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (WEB)
“All the Way My Savior Leads Me,” by Simple Hymns: Songs of Worship, sung by Paul and Hannah McClure. The song was written by Fanny Crosby (PD), Robert Lowry (PD), with a fresh interpretation by Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman.
Scripture verses are taken from the World English Bible (WEB), Public Domain.