Day 18: The Return to Nazareth
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 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.” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 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, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.- Matthew 2:19-23
Devotional:
The main motivation for this whole series came earlier this year. I was talking about the “burning bush” story from Exodus with someone in the context of “holy moments we don’t want to miss.” After a pause in the conversation they asked me, "But how do we hear God in the ordinary Tuesday afternoons?" It's a great question. We often expect God's voice to come with thunder and lightning, flame and light, but sometimes it's more like a GPS quietly recalculating our route when we need to make an adjustment. We’ve been talking a lot about this from stage but divine guidance is something you have to tune into rather than just pushing a magic button. But God still speaks personally, practically, and purposefully.
Joseph's story here is fascinating because it shows multiple layers of divine guidance. First, there's the clear angelic message to return to Israel. But then we see Joseph using Spirit-led wisdom when he learns about Archelaus. Finally, another dream confirms the decision to settle in Nazareth. It's like watching someone navigate with both a divine compass and a practical map.
What's particularly striking is how this passage bridges the spectacular and the ordinary. The same Joseph who received angelic visitations also had to make practical decisions about where to raise his family. He demonstrates that hearing God's voice isn't just for the big, miraculous moments - it's also for the everyday choices that shape our lives.
Notice too how Joseph's obedience to these various promptings - both supernatural and practical - led to the fulfillment of prophecy about Jesus being called a Nazarene. Sometimes we don't see the bigger picture until later, how our small acts of obedience fit into God's larger plan. Joseph couldn't have known that choosing Nazareth would fulfill prophecy; he was simply following God's guidance one step at a time.
Reflection Questions:
How do you recognize God's guidance in your ordinary, everyday decisions?
What's the difference between being cautious and being fearful when making Spirit-led decisions?
Prayer Prompt:
Ask God to help you recognize His voice in both the miraculous and mundane moments of life, and for wisdom to blend both divine guidance and practical wisdom in your decision-making.