Matthew 2:10-15
Verse 13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and His mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill Him.”
We mentioned how the gold was God’s provision and that leads us into two or more prophecies coming together to reveal the handiwork of God in His provision of the Redeemer.
We have mentioned already in our study about how one way that Jesus and Moses were alike is that they were both called out of Egypt. But before Jesus can be called out of the country He had to be sent there. Moses had been born there because of God sending the sons of Jacob there in the time of a great famine as a way of maintaining their lives. He had sent Joseph there years earlier to oversee the abundant crops in the years leading up to the famine.
Jesus was called out due to a spiritual famine in the Promised Land. God had not spoken to His people through a prophet in about 400 years but that was going to change with the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus. The spiritual famine included a leader named Herod the Great. He was known for various reasons but not all good. He had done away with some of his sons for fear of them showing loyalties to his opposition. The king’s role in the young Messiah’s life was one of danger and that led God to speak to Joseph about protecting the Child’s life.
The entourage of the east were sent on their way going home without keeping their word to Herod when they were warned in a dream that the king had less than honorable plans for the information on the Child. They were no more than on their way and the Lord gives the dream of guidance to Joseph. That timing of gifts could only be explained as God’s provision. Had the men from the east shown up immediately after the birth of the Child the gifts wouldn’t have seemed so fitting, but we serve a God that is totally at work in the details. The gold would be especially helpful in this fleeing to another country but the other items would likely also be able to be used for bargaining or other such things. The important thing is that God perfectly timed His provisions to fulfill a prophecy from many tears before.
Making It Personal
How has God provided for you in His perfect timing? What did you learn about trusting Him through that experience? What do you need to trust Him with today?
Making It Personal Kids
Has Jesus ever provided something that you needed? How does it make you feel knowing that Jesus will provide for all your needs? How can you learn to trust Him better?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for always providing for us and our needs. Give us the wisdom to trust You for Your provisions, even when we can’t see how You are going to do it. In Jesus’ name, amen.