A weekday morning devotional series written by Aaron Marcarelli and hosted by Chad McBeam
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.””
Micah 5:2 NASB2020
In order to fulfill prophecy God had to orchestrate a move from Joseph’s family from Bethlehem in the South of Israel to Nazareth in the north of Israel. Not a move that was commonly done. But God did it!
We don’t know much about Joseph only that he was a carpenter and that God appeared to him in dreams…and therefore he did what was right in the sight of God through faith.
“But when he had thought this over, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son; and you shall name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20-21
Then after the visit of the Magi, Joseph is visited again by an Angel of the Lord…
“Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod; this happened so that what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.””
Matthew 2:13-15 NASB2020
Then after their safety was no longer in mortal danger. Joseph is visited again…
“But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.”
Matthew 2:19-21 NASB2020
Three times Angels appear to Joseph and three times he does not doubt. He listens to God and does what He tells him to do.
Yesterday at Journey Fellowship Church Mary Catherine LeMay one of our elders wives spoke about the Advent of Christ from the point of view of Mary, she said that Mary lived out three ideals in her life that we should live out as well…
We should:
Be Obedient, Say Yes!to God and allow Him the But God moments!
We should Have faith in Him & and His wonder working power!
These are certainly appropriate for Joseph and how he listened to God as well.
Mary Catherine also said that Mary Treasured and Pondered things in her heart and we should absolutely do that! But, that is much more of a Mary reaction to the birth of Jesus than it was of Joseph. And it is a wonderful reaction and one that Joseph and all of us should certainly have as we prepare for the coming of Christ.
Lord, thank you for giving us great examples in Mary and Joseph. They were picked by you to raise Jesus. You knew that they would be great examples for the growing Christ and therefore for us as well. Please help us to be: Be Obedient to Say Yes!, and
Have faith in You! So that we can treasure your wonder working power. We pray all this in Jesus Name Amen…
Shalom Blessings and Press In and Press On!