Matthew 2:13-15 (NIV)
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.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Jesus, although God in the flesh, was completely helpless at this point in His life. Later He would be able to silence His enemies, walk right out of hostile crowds, and know exactly where He should and shouldn’t be at any given moment. But for now, He was a mere child who had no idea that death would soon be pursuing Him.
Jesus’ parents, Joseph and Mary, had been in the habit of hearing and obeying God’s voice for many years. So it was a simple thing for God to send His messenger to speak to Joseph and give Him instructions that would save both them and the child.
As was their habit, they heard clearly and obeyed immediately, even in something as radical as pulling up stakes and leaving the country. They knew God’s voice, so they didn’t argue or ask for clarification or signs that would validate the message. They simply got up in the middle of the night and headed to Egypt, trusting that God would provide everything that they would need, and that He would give them additional instructions whenever it was appropriate.
Of course, God had known that this journey would be necessary long before the earth had been created. He had even inspired Hosea to write it down as a prophecy. But Joseph and Mary didn’t require God to tell them everything that He had planned before they were willing to participate in what He was doing. They were humble and obedient in everything, and they were willing to rely on God to tell them what they needed to know when they needed to know it. They were exactly the kind of people that God chooses to do extraordinary things!
Father, I don’t ask for great things. I ask that You help me to be simply humble and obedient like Joseph and Mary, so that You can easily use Me to work Your plan. Help my trust in You to be so thorough and complete, and my relationship with You so strong, that I know Your voice well, and obey immediately whenever You speak. Amen.