Advent Daily Devotional - Day 20
Matthew 2:12-15
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Are you able to remember your dreams? Have you ever had a dream that put you on high alert?
In this passage we see God speak to the Magi, and then to Joseph to take action to avoid danger. When we are asleep images come into our subconscious mind of which we have no control.
Dreams are often bizarre, full of time-bending, physically impossible feats that seem ridiculous on waking. These two dreams from God were different. They were coherent, strategic and urgent. They were warnings that were given to preserve life, and to fulfil ancient prophesies.
Both dreams required personal sacrifice. The Magi had to pay a price by choosing not to return to pay homage to Herod, the regional ruler. They had to risk spoiling diplomatic relations and a loss of honour by breaking their oath to return. They would probably have had to pay money to leave the country discreetly.
The cost for Joseph was the loss of their home, employment and his plans. Joseph was told to get up and escape to Egypt with Mary and the child because Herod wanted to murder the child. Joseph must have woken with a start with his heart racing with adrenaline. There was no time to plan a route or gather supplies, they must leave immediately, in the dark, before the community was awake. No goodbyes, no putting things in order. He must have taken only the bare essentials plus the precious gifts they had just received from the Magi. They became fugitives, refugees, outsiders in a foreign culture and cut off from their family and friends.
Joseph did not argue, he didn't prevaricate, he believed the dream. He had a previous dream from God which he had obeyed, and he did the same again. Joseph awoke and took immediate action to flee.
Perhaps you have been a refugee fleeing war, oppression or fear of death. Thousands of people are displaced from their country of origin every year through conflict, political oppression, or climate change caused by drought, flooding or extreme weather impacts.
Questions…
Remember and pray for those who are refugees, asylum seekers, homeless or on the move looking for a place to settle.
Could you consider giving a financial gift today to a charity that comes alongside those who are fleeing from danger?
To help you in these questions, explore these further resources:
Krish Kandiah’s work for Sanctuary Foundation
Watch this reading of a powerful poem that explains why we become refugees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYPozKLU3hU
Renova Trust - A homeless charity based in Bracknell
Today's devotional was written by Jacqui Webber-Gant.