Obedience in Action

Read Matthew 2:13-22

I love the perspective we get in Matthew’s gospel on Jesus’ extraordinary birth. Luke gives us Mary’s point of view in his gospel, but Matthew gives us Joseph’s. We have already seen how Joseph accepted Jesus as his own son even though he wasn’t Jesus’ biological father (Matthew 1:18-25) and now we see how Joseph took courageous action to protect his wife and young son. Can you imagine? Joseph heard the words from God in a dream and obeyed immediately. He packed up Mary and Jesus and swept them away during the night so as not to be seen, and traveled by foot and donkey all the way to Egypt with them, the equivalent of 90 miles. Joseph was a carpenter in Israel, but was he worried about finding more carpentry work when he got to Egypt to support his family? For that matter, how would he feed them on the journey and where would they live when they got there? Whatever misgivings he may have had, Joseph knew he had to obey God and he knew he had to act fast. 

It strikes me that this is how godly husbands and fathers always are. They obey God, they take action, and they protect their families even at great risk to themselves. I am so blessed that I had a father like this and that I am married to a man who is like this. What a contrast Joseph is to the selfish, paranoid, prideful Herod! Herod was unspeakably cruel, and 2000 years later, it is still horrifying to think about his infanticidal decree. This is probably why people are more likely to read the Christmas story from Luke than from Matthew! 

In His love for human beings, God the Father also had to take action in order to save them. Part of His divine action plan was choosing an earthly mother and father to raise and protect His Son while He was a baby and child. The stakes were high. Praise God that Joseph was obedient to God and trustworthy in fulfilling his unique task. I challenge us all, including myself, to obey God like Joseph did, in the specific tasks He has given us today. 

For Family Discussion: Try to list some of the ways your parents, and other adults, care for you. How can you thank them and thank God for them? 

For Personal Reflection: Think about a way your earthly father has protected you or is protecting you. Thank your father for his care or thank God for your earthly father. 

by Ruth Carver