Matthew 2:19-21

Rachel Workman: 19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. 20 “Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.”

21 So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother. 22 But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. 23 So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.” I do wonder if this was hard for Joseph, living on the run with a child that wasn't his. Did he have resentments? I'm sure God would have softened his heart towards Jesus. One thing I have learned is that God does not always remove that which causes us hardship. That's obvious in these readings.

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John Burnett:  ¹⁹ But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, ²⁰ “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” ²¹ So ^[h]Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, ²³ and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

God’s providence at work again.  One thing we are seeing a lot of in the first two chapters of Matthew is the use of dreams by God to communicate to Mary and Joseph.  Unfortunately, there are many false teachers who use these dreams to authenticate their dreams as revelation from God.  The Word is God’s final revelation to mankind and God makes it clear in the passage below what happens to those who add to it.  It is referring to the book of Revelation, but I suspect anything added to the rest of the Bible that leads people away from the gospel would reap the same consequences or worse. 

^{Revelation 22:18-19}

¹⁸ I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and ^[i]from the holy city, which are written in this book.

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Allen Michaels:  ⁹ 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.”

²¹ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, ²³ and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Like all godly parents, Joseph and Mary raised the child Jesus in the fear and wisdom of the Lord.  Joseph was given a unique task as the guardian and protector of Mary and of Jesus.  What can we learn from the example and witness of Joseph?  Joseph is a man of God, a man of unquestioning obedience and willing service. He is a man of prayer and a man of God's word.  Through faith he recognized the hand of God in the mystery of the Incarnation— the Son of God taking flesh as the son of Mary.  Joseph is a man of action, diligent in the care of his family and ready to do the Lord's bidding.  Joseph fearlessly set aside his own plans when God called him to "take to the road" and to leave his familiar surroundings— his home, friends and relatives, and the security of his livelihood in order to pursue a hidden mission God entrusted to him as the guardian of the newborn King.  God has a plan for each of us. With the plan God gives grace and the assurance of his guiding hand and care.  Do you trust Him for his plan for your life?  Are you willing to sacrifice your own plans for God's plan?  Are you willing to give God unquestioning service and to pursue whatever mission he gives you?

"Lord, make me a faithful servant and guardian of your truth and your word. Help me to obey you willingly, like Joseph, with unquestioning trust and with joyful hope."