An angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. – Matthew 2:19
Observing the suffering in the world today, you may wonder what part divine intervention plays in contrast with concepts of fate or destiny in human affairs. Perhaps you have determined only a miracle of God could bring peace and unity. While you pray for that particular miracle, it is also good to remember, God is not sitting back watching history unfold and wondering what will happen next.
The story of His rescue of humanity from sin has already been written. And there are about 150 events recorded in the Bible that could be called “miraculous.” Everything from plagues on nations to raising the dead, from messages in dreams to hailstorms and never-depleting jars of oil. God moves in surprising ways at times. But how God is moving is not as important as what He is doing!
God’s purposes are the same thing today as when He told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus back to Israel after the murderous King Herod died. Everything He does is to protect and project the Good News of the gospel of Christ, to draw people and nations into faith.
As you pray for a miracle in America that will restore health and balance to the nation, you can do your part by pointing people to the Lord Jesus Christ. Your faithfulness in sharing the Gospel, revealing Christ as Healer and King, may be the miracle someone is waiting for. And ask God to bring a Gospel-sharer to members of Congress who still do not know Him.
Today’s Verse: Matthew 2:19
But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Matthew 2:13-23
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to 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, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
