An Angel of the Lord

Week 15 Day 7

1 Samuel 17; Ps. 9; Matthew 2

 

Matthew 1:19-20; Matthew 2:13, 19

¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

¹³ 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.”

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.”

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Questions that arose while reading:

.. Why did the angel have to “direct” Joseph what to do?  Wouldn’t he have enough “discernment” as a righteous man?

To take note:

// An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph 3 times.

.. Sometimes the Lord will use the supernatural to lead even the most righteous person in order to carry out His plans.

.. The Lord doesn’t have any problem “showing up” in a supernatural way in order to lead His people to His paths of perfect and righteous plans.

.. First time the angel appeared, it was for the redirection of Joseph’s will to the Lord’s will.

.. Second and third time the angel appeared, it was for guidance and direction for what would happen next.

// Joseph, being righteous, even considered something that could’ve been against what the Lord’s will was – for Jesus to be born through Mary and Joseph (through the Holy Spirit) by divorcing her quietly (v. 19)

.. A righteous person is not entirely perfect and could make mistakes in their decisions – of what may have seen right to them at their best judgment.

Possibilities:

.. The Lord may have had to use an angel of His to speak to Joseph in a dream or he may not have believed it; it had to be in a supernatural way.

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It’s important not to be too comfortable being righteous.  Yes, it is a given to be righteous and to be living righteously in Christ.  However, we must be prepared if the Lord redirects our thinking (of what we think is best in our own judgment) and be willing to follow what the Lord leads us to know and do.  God just calls for obedience and submission to His will.  That’s all He really asks for!

I will obey.  If supernatural leading had to occur, let it be if that is what God calls to do.  I just need to trust that it is all for the glory of God and for the fulfillment of His will to unfold. 

Soli Deo Gloria!

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Lord, I am willing to obey and submit to Your plans and will.  I know you have had these occurrences of the supernatural to redirect things in my life.  Praise your name for the obedience of the people involved.  I pray that You will help me to solely submit to Your will.  Thank you for such a great reminder and perhaps, a confirmation, and an assurance of Your great love – You only do things for Your honor and for our good.  You never give us anything we cannot handle and even the ones that are hard to take, You give us strength to carry on.  I pray that You will continue to grant peace in my heart for what’s coming ahead.  All these for Your glory.  In Jesus’ name, amen.