Ordered Footsteps

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

ORDERED FOOTSTEPS

Matt 4:12-16

 12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."  

NIV

It is interesting how our scholars of old spend much time defining the areas of Nazareth and Capernaum and the use of the words land of Zebulun and Naphtali. There does seem to be a physical reason for Jesus to leave Nazareth as Luke mentions the people rejected him and even seemed to want to kill him. But we think the real story here, the truth to all this moving from one place to another is to fulfill what was written about him. Jesus is not without full knowledge of the complete writings of Moses, David, Solomon, and all the prophets. This gives us two truths to ponder on. First, Jesus is divine. Even though he came in the form of man, he was and is fully God. Jesus did not do just anything he wanted to do or responded to the whims of the world. He was not forced out of Nazareth without his full consent. If he had wanted, if his own human will be determined what course his life would take, he could have made them see the truth, forced his will upon them. But Jesus was here to do the will of the Father and save mankind from the wrath that was upon them. However, the prophet spoke about his future, his move to Capernaum, and the prophet did not speak on his own, but what was told him by God. So this move was already determined by Jesus, being God, before it happened. The second truth relates to us today. We are aware that we might make our plans, but we must also understand that God orders our footsteps. We certainly have the option to follow our own will, to do our own thing, live according to our desires, goals, or ambitions. However, if we say that we are following Jesus, if we have chosen to offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, then our footsteps, our path, our choices in life are determined by God. We go when he says to go, we stay when he says to stay. We work where he determines and for as long as he determines, for all our footsteps are ordered by God, not by us. Isaiah said there was a great light living in the darkness of people, offering the way, showing the way to eternal life. The light of Jesus took away that shadow of death that hung over us, and now, as we have been told, we are the light in the world, and we are not to hide our light but put it where it will be seen by all. The only way we can do that is to be where God has determined us to be when he determines we will be there, ordering our footsteps. The Apostle Paul makes this profound statement, “for in him we live and move and have our being”. Let us follow where he leads.