Day 4 – Protection and Provision
“Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Matthew 2:13-15
Just because you sacrifice doesn’t mean it will be easy. We are not “owed” things just because we have done the right thing. We live in a fallen world with fallen people, and often situations arise that call us to protect and provide for what God is doing in the midst of opposition.
True faith is seen when what you are protecting and providing for is for the “thing/situation” that you had planned.
Joseph steps up. He hears the warning, and he gets his young bride and the Messiah to safety.
He left his job, his home, his friends, all to protect and provide for what God had asked him to care for.
Inward: Immanuel, what do you want me to know? Do I begrudgingly care for some things just because it isn’t what I had hoped for? Am I caring for and cultivating your work without restrictions?
Outward: Immanuel, what do you want me to do? How can I encourage others who are protecting and providing for your work, even if it means they have left home, livelihood, and connections?
