Pam Padgett ... teacher
When Jesus was born, God gave Joseph instructions in what to do, and
Joseph obeyed. When the angel told Joseph to take Mary as his wife,
Joseph obeyed ...
Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things,
behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying,
Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for
that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall
bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save
his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and
they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with
us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord
had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she
had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Because Joseph obeyed and took Mary as his wife, when Herod gave the decree for
everyone to be taxed, Mary went with Joseph to Bethlehem, and Jesus was
born in Bethlehem ...
Luke 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his
own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called
Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be
taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it
was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she
should be delivered.
Jesus being born in Bethlehem fulfilled the word of God given to the prophet Micah ...
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little
among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto
me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of
old, from everlasting.
Another instruction given was for Joseph to take Jesus and Mary to
Egypt. After Herod died, Joseph was told to return to the land of
Israel from Egypt. This fulfilled the prophecy that God would call His Son out of Egypt ...
Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the
Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young
child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I
bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14
When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and
departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. .....
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a
dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child
and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which
sought the young child's life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child
and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
When Joseph returned to the land of Israel, he was afraid when he heard
that Herod's son reigned. When he was warned by God, he went to the
city of Nazareth in Galilee. This, also, fulfilled what God had spoken
through His prophets ...
Matthew 2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea
in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither:
notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into
the parts of Galilee: 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called
Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
When God instructed Joseph in what to do, Joseph obeyed what he was told to do, going in the way shown by that instruction. Each time Joseph received an instruction from God, he turned and went in the way of that instruction. God was instructing Joseph to go in ways God had beforehand shown to His prophets, and the prophecies were fulfilled as Joseph obeyed God.
I thought of how each word we receive from God by the Holy Spirit is like a light showing us the way to go. As we obey the instruction we're given, taking each step we see by that light, we go according to the will of God, fulfilling His purpose.