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All in the Plan

Matthew 2:13-15
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up,' he said, 'take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.' So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'Out of Egypt I called my son.'

The wise men had gone. In a dream, God told them not to tell Herod anything about their visit to Jesus; so they went home by slipping across the border without going to Jerusalem. Later, Joseph had a dream telling him to leave Bethlehem immediately because Herod wanted to kill Jesus. The dream woke him up and the message was so urgent that Joseph roused Mary. They hurriedly packed the expensive presents left by the Magi and escaped with Jesus in the middle of the night. God told Joseph to go to Egypt without any delay. And so they did.

God spoke and Joseph obeyed. The valuable gifts from the wise men could be sold to provide support for the young family: and so they stayed in Egypt until the barbarous King Herod had died. In the same way that the Children of Israel came out of Egypt, so too Jesus the Son of God would come from Egypt as prophesied in Hosea 11:1. It was all in God's plan.

Joseph had learned that when God speaks things happen; and if he was to be a part of God's plan, he needed to be obedient, immediately. The circumstances were not pleasant but God had made provision for exile, and commanded Joseph to take action. Immediate obedience is only for servants, some might say. It is! All God's people are not only His family but also His servants; and every servant of the living God needs to be swift to obey so that God's plan can produce His intended result. Joseph was keen to see God's Word fulfilled. So he chose to be obedient to ensure that he did not obstruct the Divine purpose. Do you know what God wants you to do? Then why have you not done it!? Obedience is the only way to be blessed in His plan.

Prayer 
Holy Father. Thank You for telling me what is right and true, and giving me the opportunity to be a part of Your big plan. I am sorry when I have rebelled against You by being disobedient to Your instructions, and ask that You will forgive me and give me a fresh opportunity to obey. Please help me to see that I should be concerned to be a part of Your big plan rather than expect You to support my little plans. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams