Where He Leads Me I Will Follow

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

It was just over 2,000 years ago that Joseph and Mary made their journey to Bethlehem. It would not be long, approximately two years, and they would be on the move again because of Herod’s slaughter of the innocents [Matthew 2:13-18]. It was at God’s direction that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus made their way to Egypt, where they stayed until Herod’s death. 

I find it interesting that each move the family made found its cause in God’s leading—fleeing to Egypt, their return to Israel after Herod’s death, their avoidance to return to Bethlehem [Judea] to settle near the Sea of Galilee. It was God’s will for them to make that long journey. First, the life of Jesus was at stake. He had to be protected. And secondly, each directive fulfilled ancient prophecies about the Messiah, which Matthew notes in his narrative of the events. I don’t think that Joseph understood all of that in the beginning, but in hindsight it should have been very clear. 

Another thing that strikes me is that Joseph didn’t argue with God or question the wisdom of His leading. And that is a good model for us. Even though we don’t always understand why God is leading us in a certain direction, we can have complete confidence that it is for our good and His glory. 

If you haven’t realized it yet, you’ll find that God leads by His wise, and often unusual directives. At times it may even seem a little mysterious, but don’t fret, it always proves wiser than our impatient requests for the complete itinerary He has for us. Trusting God along the path of the unknown honors Him. 

Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. Matthew 2:19-21