Ordered Footsteps

 

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

ORDERED FOOTSTEPS

Matt 2:19-23

19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."

21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."

NIV

Everything is going exactly according to the will of God, for He is making sure that it does. The truth is that man lives his days each at a time according to his own plans, but God orders his footsteps. At least that is what Solomon, the wisest of all men, wrote in his proverb. He knew that man always wants to man his own plan for life. God also has a plan for our lives, but once again we know from our own experience that God does not force his way upon us even when we are living according to our plan. Joseph and Mary heard the voice of God telling them to get up and escape to Egypt and they did. But now they are living each day like any normal married couple with a child, however in a land where they are foreigners. However, in those days perhaps that was not so uncommon, just as it is today. Many people of many nations live right here in our neighborhood. The point is Joseph and Mary had settled into a daily routine knowing this is where they were supposed to be. However, God was not finished with His plan for them and sent another messenger to appear to Joseph in a dream. We wonder why God sends his messenger to appear in a dream to Joseph. Surely angels have appeared in person before. According to Luke, an angel appeared to Zechariah and to Mary, but for Joseph always in a dream. Isn’t that just like God to do things however he sees fit, rather than allowing man to put Him in some box, saying that God always does this or that? Nevertheless, Joseph responds and packs up the family, and heads back to Israel. However, not back to Judea, their hometown, but because of the instructions of God, Joseph went on to the town of Nazareth, as it was prophesied. Once again, God was ordering his footsteps. We live our lives each day for the most part according to our own plans. It may even be doubtful that we consult God for every choice we face. We might well simply make many of our own choices in life and only include God as for spiritual implications, as making sure we do not go to hell but have a free ride in the air to heaven. Other than that, we live each day according to our plans. We notice how many people brag about their lives, their choices, their plans, what they have done, and are doing, using a multitude of media platforms, and rarely do we see anything that includes the Lord in those comments of life. Man making his own way in life, but as with Joseph and Mary, God ordered their footsteps and if we spend any time listening, we will hear His voice ordering our steps as well. We are right where He wants us and right here, we stay until He orders us elsewhere. We are doing exactly as He has ordered and will continue to do just that until He orders otherwise. He may appear to us in a dream, He may stand before us, he may speak to us in a still small voice, He may speak to us through the Spirit who dwells within, He may use the voice of a person, a prophetic word spoken that pierces our heart. But we can be sure He will speak and He will order our footsteps.