Pam Padgett ... teacher
In Matthew 2 we have several accounts of God revealing beforehand what would come to pass, as well as providing needed instruction and guidance, bringing about all things according to HIS will and
purpose.
God had revealed beforehand that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (Micah was told this in Micah 5:2) ....
Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise
men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is
born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east,
and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard
these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And
when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the
people together, he demanded of them where
Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem
of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least
among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a
Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
When the time for Jesus to be born came, Joseph and Mary, his espoused wife, went from Nazareth to Bethlehem
to pay taxes decreed by Caesar Augustus. While in
Bethlehem, Jesus was born, just as God had said. ...
Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went
out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be
taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was
governor of Syria.) 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.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was
no room for them in the inn.
Herod wanted to destroy the child (Jesus) the wise men told of, so Herod told the wise men to inform
him when they found the child. But it was not the will of God for Herod to harm the child, and He warning the wise men in a dream to not return to Herod
...
Matthew 2:7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise
men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search
diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him,
bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 9
When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star,
which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and
stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star,
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were
come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his
mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had
opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned
of God in a dream that they should not
return to Herod, they departed into their own country another
way.
And God instructed Joseph by an angel in a dream to take Mary and Jesus and flee to Egypt so that Herod could not destroy Jesus
...
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.
Joseph took Mary, and Jesus to Egypt as instructed. Later, when Herod died, an angel came to Joseph
in a dream, telling him to leave Egypt with Mary and Jesus and go to Israel. This fulfilled what had been
foretold to a prophet ... that God would call His
Son out of Egypt ...
Matthew 2:14 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.
When Herod realized the wise men did not return to tell him when
they found the child, Herod killed all the children 2 years old and
younger in Bethlehem and the coasts. This, also, was known before and revealed by God to the prophet, Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:15) ...
Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the
wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the
children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof,
from two years old and under, according to the time which he had
diligently enquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled
that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet,
saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and
weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children,
and would not be comforted, because they are not.
When the angel instructed Joseph to return to the land of Israel, and being warned of God in a dream, Joseph
brought Mary and Jesus to Nazareth, fulfilling what had before
been told to prophets that Christ would be called a Nazarene ...
Matthew 2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his
mother, and came into the land of Israel. 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.
God knows all things, past, present, and future, and He sometimes chooses to reveal beforehand what will come to pass. That which God tells will happen, will come to pass.
And as we see
throughout the Bible and have seen in our own lives, God is able to
guide us in the way we are to go ... through dreams, scriptures, thoughts brought directly to our minds by the Holy Spirit, however HE wills ... and to bring about all things according to HIS
purpose.