Matthew 2:19-21 NIVUK
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.’
21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
This is the last we hear of Joseph outside of references to Jesus’ descent. What do we know of him? He’s described as a righteous man, clearly compassionate towards Mary, especially when he believes that she has been unfaithful and we know he was a carpenter. But his deeds in this chapter are probably the most significant. He was prepared to listen to God and act upon what he believed God was saying, even if it meant leaving home and fleeing to Egypt and then later returning, but not home but to Galilee, on the warning of an angel. Faith in action. Would you have the courage to act as he did?
Heavenly Father, teach me to have Joseph’s obedient faith.
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