Another unwanted journey
Daily Scripture
Matthew 2:13-15
13 When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.” 14 Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt. 15 He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt [Hosea 11:1].
Daily Reflection & Prayer
An arbitrary Roman edict caused Joseph and Mary’s first unwanted journey, with her pregnancy far advanced (cf. Luke 2:1, 4-5). Now, unlike the impression in some Christmas pageants, Joseph had to do much more than stand by the manger while shepherds knelt to baby Jesus. Herod had killed many potential rivals for his throne. He certainly wouldn’t flinch from trying to kill the newborn Messiah. God worked through Joseph’s attentive obedience to save Mary and baby Jesus from the king’s deadly paranoia.
- Joseph obviously did not wake up every day and do whatever he had dreamed about the night before. Yet it was a life-and-death matter for him to promptly obey the dreams Matthew recorded. How can you discern which thoughts, dreams or “inner nudges” are from God? (Books like Dallas Willard’s Hearing God and Adam Hamilton’s Why? offer deeper insights into that important question. *) What makes it important to wrestle with that rather than ignoring it?
- This story would have had special resonance for Jewish Christians. “Jesus’ escape to Egypt and his later return recall the exodus story. This is made clear by the quotation of Hosea 11:1.” ** In Jesus’ day, there were various Jewish communities in Egypt. This made Egypt a safer refuge for Joseph, Mary and Jesus than it might be today. Does knowing that Joseph, Mary and Jesus fled from political violence cast any light on the refugee issues that often cause controversy today?
Prayer
Loving Lord, like your people of old, you came out of Egypt, thanks to your vigilant, obedient parents. Help me know how to mix wisdom and compassion in welcoming strangers in your name. Amen.
GPS Insights
Lydia Kim
Lydia Kim serves as a pastor of Connection and Care at Resurrection Leawood. An avid believer that growing in faith pairs well with fellowship and food, she is always ready for recommendations on local restaurants and coffee shops.
Before leaving Los Angeles to return to Kansas City in 2016, I thought I had made it. I worked at a fantastic non-profit, had my dream job helping families, lived near the mountains, and loved my church and friends. Everything was perfect.
Yet, one day after talking with a client, I got a feeling that wouldn’t quit—a desire to share the hope that I had in Jesus that I could not share where I worked, and it really got to me. I talked to my friends, my mentor, and finally my pastor about it, and they all asked the same thing: “What about full-time ministry?”
No way! I wasn’t pastor material. I was already serving God in what I was doing, and I had no desire to return to school and start all over again. So, I understand how Joseph must have felt. Who wants another hurdle or mountain to cross? Who wants another unwanted journey?
Even though Joseph’s journey could not have been easy, I also understand the joy of saying yes to God. The past 8 years have been a wild ride, full of ups and downs, but also one of significant growth and profound moments of joy, hope, peace, and love.
Dear friends, I know it isn’t always easy to say yes. There isn’t always a guarantee that God’s big dream will be easy. However, I wonder what it would be like to say yes to thinking about it, talking to others, and challenging yourself to say yes to God. I can tell you from experience my “unwanted journey” turned out to be one of my favorites so far.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Dallas Willard, Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God (IVP Formatio; Expanded, Updated edition (April 23, 2024); Adam Hamilton, Why? Abingdon Press; Reprint edition (February 20, 2018).
** Eugene Eung-Chun Park and Joel B. Green, study note on Matthew 2:13 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 8 NT.
