An Unplanned Change

We return to Paul and Silas, servants and messengers of God, men overjoyed to spread the Good News of Jesus to all. We are viewing their response to an unplanned change that has been sprung upon them suddenly 

Suddenly, while preaching the Gospel News in a place to which the Holy Spirit has guided and led them, they are met with ill will - hostility and life-threatening danger – from the very people to whom they have brought the Good News of Jesus.

Overnight, without prior warning, servants of God have been sent off to another destination, a place which was not in their plans. Without resistance, these servants, whose mission did not come to the conclusion they had thought would be, leave not with defeat, regrets, or deep feelings of not completing their work. They leave with complete faith and confidence in the Holy Spirit, doing as He directs and wills. Greater and more diverse fruit is borne.

Second Well-known Event

We are looking at Joseph and Mary, servants of God, people whom God has used to be the human guardians of His Word made flesh. We know that they are favoured and happy people with the birth of Jesus. We know for example, although Joseph had a most difficult time with Mary’s pregnancy, God had visited him and made it all clear and plain to him. Now a man at rest and peace he and his new family are resting peacefully and joyfully in the City of David. O how pleased they must have been to have shepherds and Magi visit their little Baby Boy.

We are viewing Joseph’s response to an unplanned change that has been sprung upon him most suddenly. He has gone to Bethlehem to register, as the law commands. Joseph has chosen to take pregnant Mary with him, but does he expect her to have the baby then and there?  All we are told is this. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. Luke 2: 6 – 7a. We are talking about Jesus, God Incarnate, so we definitely know that God is the orchestrator of the place and time of Jesus’ birth.

Suddenly, while in the place where he went to do his census, the place and time which God has made happen, they are met with ill will - hostility and life-threatening danger – in the very place chosen for birth to take place. Indeed, in the place God has chosen to bring to light the Good News of Jesus’ Birth, evil is waiting to kill him.

Overnight, without prior warning, Joseph has a dream where God, through His heavenly messenger, hurries Joseph off to another destination to secure the Baby Jesus, the Living Word made flesh. 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. Matthew 2: 13. I can assure you that Egypt was never in Joseph’s mind, far less his plans. Without resistance, he takes his young family away. Has he been defeated by evil? In running away so secretly and hastily is he showing, weakness, fear, and powerlessness? Is he saying that there are stronger powers than God, so he has to run, to flee, to save the Christ Child’s life? I really do not think so. What about you? Personally, I believe that Joseph’s strengthened and growing faith and confidence in the Holy Spirit, allowed him to believe and do as he was told. 

Here’s a point of divine interest, to latch on to, ensuring that it obtains in your life also. When the Magi and Joseph were visited by God in dreams and were spoken to by God’s heavenly messengers, they instantly believed, no hesitations or second guessing. Straightway they obeyed. Similarly, we who claim to know the Lord, in whom His Spirit dwells, must never cancel any method by which God speaks to us. Dreams are still used by God.