Following the Dream

Matthew 2; Luke 2:39-52 Sometimes God speaks to us in a dream as he did with Joseph of Genesis and Joseph, the husband of Mary here in Matthew. First, when Joseph hears of Mary’s pregnancy, the angel of the Lord comes to Joseph in a dream to not fear but “arise” and take Mary to be his wife and call the child Jesus for he will save his people from their sins. The second time, the angel of the Lord comes to Joseph in a dream and tells him to “arise” and flee to Egypt for Herod seeks to destroy him. The third time, an angel again comes to Joseph and speaks to him, “arise” and take the young child and his mother back to Israel, for those who seek to destroy him are dead. The fourth time, an angel again speaks to Joseph in a dream, warning him to not go to Jerusalem but to go to Nazareth so that the words of the prophets would be fulfilled; he shall be called a Nazarene.

It was in Nazareth that Jesus grew in favor with God and man. It was Nathaniel that questioned, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” and responded with these words: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!”

When God speaks, whether from the Word or a dream, do we obey as Joseph did? Do we echo the words of Nathaniel when we come face to face with Him?