(Matthew 2:19-23) But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 20 “Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.” 21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into 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. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Today's takeaway: I was really struggling to think why this detail was important to eschatology. First of all, God has His ordained plans - and He will make sure that nothing and no one will prevent the plans from happening. Second, God wants people to see that Jesus is not just some ordinary man - but is the Son of God - so God has sprinkled the old testament scriptures with so many various prophecies. As these prophecies actually happened, there should have been and there should be no question that Jesus is the Messiah! And then, because all prophecies that should have happened already - have happened - - - we can be more confident that the prophecies that are still to happen - will happen!
And, I had struggled to think about the "So what? What can I personally learn from this?" So the third point for the above is also my main takeaway, God can use any willing and obedient believer - from anywhere. Of course, Jesus is God. Notice that Jesus was NOT born in Jerusalem with a silver spoon in His mouth, surrounded by soldiers to protect Him, and then presented to the High Priest and Pharisees. Perhaps the point can be - it doesn't matter where you come from or what your status in life is - God can use you. In that same thinking, for mankind, no matter which highfalutin area you are from or what high status you have - you still need saving...
(James 2:1-8) My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.
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