How Far Would You God to Follow a Dream?

Matthew 2:13-15

When the magi had departed, an angel from the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod will soon search for the child in order to kill him.”  Joseph got up and, during the night, took the child and his mother to Egypt.  He stayed there until Herod died. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: I have called my son out of Egypt.

Joseph has another dream where he is given instructions, which he promptly follows.  For someone we know so little about, what we do know is extraordinary.  Joseph has a dream where the Lord tells him to pick up his family and move to another country.  So, stop there for a second.  You have a dream like that. . . do you trust that it’s real and flee to another country?  I’ve had some weird dreams over the years.  I can’t remember making a life-altering decision in response to any of them. 

Joseph’s decision is reminiscent of Abraham’s call to do the very same thing – uproot his family and take them to a new land.  This, I believe, is purposely recalled by Matthew to signal the significance of what is happening now.  Just as Abraham was called to establish a new people, the birth of Jesus is another momentous beginning – Abraham’s people, the chosen people of God, will now call ALL people to be God’s people.  Of course, Abraham was told that forty-two generations ago, but now it is actually happening!

I want to believe that this is why Joseph was willing to act so decisively in response to a crazy dream.  The dream lined up with all he knew of the destiny of his family.  To be told that Herod now jeopardizes this plan sparks Joe into action.  Of course, he has to get this child away from Herod.  So, they rush off to Egypt, the same destination of another Joseph in another time (and another person in the same family line) that will eventually lead to deliverance of God’s people.  This is why Matthew quotes Hosea; “I have called my son out of Egypt.“  This indeed is a family of destiny! 

What will become more and more apparent as we journey through Mattew’s gospel is that we are all called to be a part of that family of destiny.  We are all called to into the family of God.  Just like Joseph, we are invited to believe that God has big plans for us and to trust God’s instructions even when those instructions are scary.  Not all of us are called to leave everything we know behind to physically move to another country.  But certainly, God’s call to each of us does call us to leave things behind in pursuit of something even better.  This theme will be reinforced over and over as well as we hear Matthew’s gospel.

Questions:  What have you left behind to follow the Lord’s leading?  What would you be willing to leave behind?

Prayer:  God, Your call can be intimidating and scary, but help us to clearly hear it anyway.  Grant us courage to respond affirmatively, no matter what we may have to leave behind. Amen.

Prayer Focus:  Pray for people you know trying to serve God in difficult circumstances.

Song: Joseph, Better You Than Me – Killers (w/ Elton John and Neil Tennant)