Tuesday, February 03, 2015
TEXT: MATTHEW 2:13-23
Key Verse: “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” (Matthew 2:13).
There was danger that the family of Joseph did not know about. In keeping with His promise of protection and preservation, God told him to flee to Egypt with his wife Mary and baby Jesus “for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him”. Disregard of this advice on the pretext that God would protect His own irrespective of where they are would have brought avoidable disaster.
God knows the strength of the enemy and knows how best to preserve His people in His own way. So, He does not entertain argument of the disobedient and perishing. God has a thousand and one ways of guiding and protecting and fulfilling divine promises for His people. In this case, God sought Joseph’s obedience to His guidance, which involved the family fleeing the country.
Joseph cooperated with God, by not staying behind to pray for the instant destruction of Herod. Of course, this would have made the trip to Egypt, with all its hazards, unnecessary. He leftfor Egypt in compliance with divine instruction, and the Child was saved.
So, even where God has promised protection or provision, there are conditions to be met to have the fulfilment of it. God’s promise of long life, for instance, was predicated on obedience. “And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments... then I will lengthen thy days.” Joseph fully obeyed God’s method of protecting his family from the wicked scheme of Herod; he enjoyed the complete coverage of the Almighty. He neither questioned nor dictated to God how He should deliver and protect them.
The Christian must be submissive to the plans of God even while claiming His promises in times of trials and challenges. That is when he will enjoy the fruits of obedience which include divine protection, unlimited supplies, prosperity and divine presence.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DEUTERONOMY 7 - 9
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Obedience is key to receiving from God.