Dear Explorer,
Read Matthew 2:13-18
How did God communicate with Joseph?
What did God tell Joseph?
How quickly did Joseph obey?
Herod knew the date the star appeared because he had asked the wise men. I assume that the star had appeared somewhat less than 2 years earlier because of the age of babies that Herod had destroyed. Therefore, we can be fairly certain that Jesus was younger than 2 years old when the magi visited.
This slaughter of Jewish boy babies was also prophesied in the Old Testament by the prophet Jeremiah
Read Matthew 2:19-23
Once again God communicates with Joseph and gives him instructions. Matthew 2:22 may indicate that he received yet another dream, or it may be referring to the previous one. But either way, God was directing them to a specific place.
Where was He guiding them?
I want you to take a few minutes and see God's provision for this little family. Joseph was very poor. He was a carpenter and I'm sure he worked hard to put food on the table, but he didn't have money for travel. Where did he get the funds to move to Egypt and then to Nazareth?
In 2 Corinthians 9:8, God promises to provide everything that we need to accomplish everything that He has called us to do
Do you think that God would call wise men from the East to travel a great distance at great expense and hardship to provide Joseph with the resources he would need to care for his little family?