“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. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt” (KJV, Matt. 2:13-14).
“And when they were departed”
Father, I thank You for the birth of Christ this Christmas. Work in my heart and help me to magnify Christ within. Your Word tells me the time came for Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to depart from Bethlehem. What an amazing act of providence in the birth of Christ.
Your Word has proven true countless times. Your Word is the most widely scrutinized book in the history of books; nevertheless, Your Word has not been disproven. One of the most excellent indications of the Bible’s reliability is the fulfillment of Your prophecies.
Thank You for giving me good reasons to believe Your Word. Underneath Your prophecies is Your providence. You have provided for Your people. The Bethlehem birth was You providing for Your people, and for that, I am thankful.
“behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream”
Teach me how to interpret Your Word. You desired to speak to Joseph and help him through his trials. I am met with various difficulties in this life, and I pray that You will also help me through them. You have been gracious to me through Your Word.
Holy Spirit, illuminate Your Word and cause it to take root. May You appear to me through Your Word and convict me.
“saying”
In creation, You spoke, and the world came to be. With a mere word, You made the fish of the sea and the birds of the air. In the passage at hand, You spoke through the angel of the Lord. In the Old Testament, You spoke through Your prophets.
You have continued to speak, and your Word comes with power each time you do. In the book of Psalms, You have told me that You sent out Your Word to heal the people and to deliver them from their destruction. What a life verse this was for Joseph. You sent out Your Word through the angel of the Lord to deliver Joseph, Mary, and Jesus from the destruction of Herod.
You have told me that You send out Your Word to melt the ice (Ps. 147:18). I pray that You would send out Your Word today and melt my heart. When You speak, it is worth listening to, but I often have competing voices that seek to get my attention.
With a word, you created the heavens and the earth out of nothing. This helps me to know that You can work in my life through Your Word even though I do not see how You can help me to be all You have called me to be.
“Arise”
Your Word brings life. When I look back to the Garden, I see a time of death. I know the first man’s sin and the fall’s effects. I cannot bring about life in myself; I need You to do it. Genesis chapter one tells me that You made life. You have always existed and are not created. Life finds its origin in You. It is ridiculous to think that You do not exist and that somehow life can come from non-living matter.
But You have told me that You do exist. You have said to me that You are the giver of life. You have told me that the unbeliever is dead in his sins and trespasses due to sin. Therefore, someone must be born again to be able to live for You.
Would You draw me to Jesus this day and cause me to believe in Your Gospel? Help me to look to Christ in His incarnation and rejoice in His coming to the earth. Thank You for my Savior and all that He has done for me. Thank You for the spotless Lamb of Calvary.
“and take the young child and his mother”
You are greatly concerned for Your people. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden, You provided a sacrifice for their sin. When Abraham went to sacrifice his Son, Isaac, You provided the sacrifice. When the Israelites cried out to You in their bondage, You delivered them with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. When Lot lingered in Sodom, You pulled him out so that Your wrath would not fall upon Him. When the Israelites were trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, You parted the waters so that Your people could pass through safely. When the walls of Jericho looked impenetrable, You made them fall with the blast of a trumpet. When the army of the Assyrians were set to invade Jerusalem, You answered the king’s prayer and fought the battle for Your people.
You have never failed, and you never will. Therefore, you are deserving of praise and worthy of adoration.
“and flee into Egypt”
You sought to hide Your people from the fury in King Herod’s heart. I pray that You would be my refuge this day. Help me turn to You in times of adversity and not seek to take matters into my own hands. Show me what it means to trust in You and depend upon You daily.
While Egypt is set apart in the Bible as a place of wickedness, it is interesting to see that even Christ would go there. What imagery this gives me. Christ reaches into the depths of the earth, and no man is out of the reach of Jesus. You love the sinner, and You love to set the sinner free. You do not love the sin, but Your heart is for redemption.
“and be thou there until I bring thee word”
Father, I will not move until You give me the Word. I pray that You will teach me to listen to Your commands. Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and it will guide me along the path. You have shown me and told me how to walk in this life. I pray I will learn to take every step in light of Your Word.
You told Joseph to stay in Egypt until You gave him the word to leave. What patience this would have taken to fulfill Your command. I can grow impatient quickly when things do not go my way. Teach me the patience of Joseph and help me to honor You as he did.
“for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him”
There is a spiritual battle that I must face in this life. It will do no good to deny this fact. Paul has told me that my struggle is not against flesh and blood. Later, Paul tells me that I must put on the armor of God to withstand the attacks of the devil. The activity of Herod was nothing short of demonic. The prophecy was confirmed that the serpent’s followers would be at enmity with Christ and His followers.
Herod sought to kill Jesus when He was only a baby. However, the influences of Herod’s life are in the world today. Cain still seeks to kill Abel. The firstborn still seeks to destroy the secondborn. The tempter, Satan, tempted Herod. Teach me to guard against the devil’s schemes and to cherish Christ in my heart.
“When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt”
Joseph’s obedience is admirable. When Joseph heard Your Word, he responded quickly, much like Noah. Joseph knew what You had called him to and did not shrink back during his trial. Help me to listen to Your Word as Joseph did and heed your call. You have shown me this Christmas that Christ came into the world for me. Open my eyes so that I might know how to live a life that is pleasing in the Lord’s sight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.