Joseph knows what it is like. He hears the voice of God through one of God’s angels and he jumps to obey without hesitation. Why? Because he knows God will provide where He guides. God has brought them this far. God, Emmanuel, is with them. They have God, in human form, in their arms, as well as God over them, guiding their every step. Wow, too much? Go deep into the thought of how much God loves and cares for you.

IMPENDING DANGER! GOD INTERVENES…
“After the scholars were gone, God’s angel showed up again in Joseph’s dream and commanded, ‘Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this child, and wants to kill him.'” Matthew 2, Msg

JOSEPH OBEYS…IMMEDIATELY!
“Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother under cover of darkness. They were out of town and well on their way by daylight. They lived in Egypt until Herod’s death. This Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached: ‘I called my son out of Egypt.'” Matthew 2, Msg

PROVISION FOR THE JOURNEY…
Joseph, the carpenter, fled with his family, under the protection of God, Himself, for Scripture would be fulfilled as God’s plan continues to unfold exactly what God told the prophets to preach centuries earlier. As we discussed yesterday, the gifts of gold from the scholars probably financed this quick getaway from impending danger. God knew and provided.

“Herod, when he realized that the scholars had tricked him, flew into a rage. He commanded the murder of every little boy two years old and under who lived in Bethlehem and its surrounding hills. (He determined that age from information he’d gotten from the scholars.) That’s when Jeremiah’s sermon was fulfilled:

‘A sound was heard in Ramah, weeping and much lament. Rachel weeping for her children, Rachel refusing all solace, her children gone, dead and buried.’ Matthew 2, Msg

As I read this, I’m thinking who tricked who? Herod kills his own people in an extreme attempt, driven by fear, to keep things as they are, with him in control of all as an earthly king. But God intervenes. And God provides. And His Holy Scripture is fulfilled. Because Joseph obeyed. Quickly. God knew he would.