01/05 - Neither Time Nor Distance Hindered God’s Plan

Mathew 2:19-23

How are Mary and Joseph making it financially? Apparently he was not a wealthy man, and he quite his work when they went to Bethlehem. Perhaps he got some work after Jesus’ birth, but within a year or two, the family fled in the middle of the night on a long, expensive trip to Egypt. While there, he may have found work but soon came another expensive trip back to Israel.

God had provided. From far away, He sent valuable gifts with the Magi. In fact, He was looking out for this little family in almost every way. For example, consider how He directs Joseph in dreams. First, He first tells Joseph to flee to Egypt to prevent Jesus being killed; second, to return from Egypt after Herod dies; and third, to locate in Nazareth, safely away from Herod’s son.

Every detail had been anticipated and a grand plan worked out, as illustrated by Matthew’s references to prophecies:

• The Messiah would be born to a virgin (Matt. 1:21)
• He would be born in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:6)
• He would be called from Egypt (Matt. 2:15)
• There would be weeping for the children (Matt. 2:18)
• The Messiah would come from Nazareth (Matt. 2:23)

God determined details of events centuries ahead of time. He sent needed gifts from Persia and sent Jesus to Egypt for protection. Neither time nor distance mattered to God in planning for the sending of his son.