"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye"-Psalm 32:8
A wise man once said: "You must be willing to follow if you want God to lead".
During my time of study in His presence this morning, I read the story of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is very pertinent to note how the Lord instructed and guided Joseph the father of Jesus.
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 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."- Matthew 1:18-20
The first time the Angel of God appeared to Joseph, he was instructed by the Angel not to 'put away' (i.e. separate from or divorce) Mary his wife. Joseph obeyed the Lord when he was informed that the pregnancy of Mary was divine and not by any man, which would have been a case of adultery.
I reckon that Joseph's willingness to submit to, and obey the voice of the Lord on this occasion was very crucial to the process of preservation of the life of the child Jesus.
"The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way."-Psalm 25:9
Later on, after the child Jesus was born and King Herod plotted to kill him, the angel of the Lord appeared again to Joseph.
"And when they [The Wise Men] 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. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:"- Matthew 2:13-14 (Brackets Mine)
We can see how by understanding the voice of the Angel and obedience to the same, Joseph was very instrumental in the preservation of the life of Jesus, and the fulfilment of the redemptive agenda of God for humanity.
Finally, after the death of Herod, the Angel appeared again and instructed Joseph to take Mary and the child Jesus back to Israel.
"But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 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. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel."- Matthew 2:19-21
We have seen how God through His Angel specifically instructed Joseph and led him to preserve the life of Jesus.
I suppose Jospeh must have developed a habitual fellowship with God, and understanding His voice for the Angel to appear unto him time and again. God's redemptive agenda for humanity was established because Joseph obeyed the Lord's instruction, and the life of the child Jesus was preserved.
Praise the Lord, Hallelujah!
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