Joseph Afraid to Go to Israel Matthew 2:22

Matthew shared what happened when Herod the king, “saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared 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”, and in chapter two and verse twenty-two of his book, Matthew shared how Joseph was, “afraid to go” to Israel where we read:

But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

The verse reads, “But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there:” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “moreover and” “when he heard” or “at the time that Joseph was given the faculty for hearing, perceiving, noticing and discerning” “that Archelaus” which means “prince of the people” who was “a son of Herod the Great by Malthace, the Samaritan woman. He and his brother Antipas were brought up with a certain private man in Rome. After the death of his father, he ruled as ethnarch over Judaea, Samaria and Idumaea” “did reign” or “ruled, exercised kingly power, influence and control” “in Judea” which refers to “within the southern portion of Palestine lying on this side of the Jordan and the Dead Sea, to distinguish it from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, and Idumaea whose name means he shall be praised” “in the room” or “instead and in the place” “of his father” which means “belonging to his male ancestor and generator” “Herod” or “the name of a royal family that flourished among the Jews in the times of Christ and the Apostles. Herod the Great was the son of Antipater of Idumaea. Appointed king of Judaea B.C. 40 by the Roman Senate at the suggestion of Antony and with the consent of Octavian, he at length overcame the great opposition which the country made to him and took possession of the kingdom B.C. 37 whose name means heroic”, “he was afraid” which means “Joseph feared, was terrified and struck with alarm and fear” “to go there” or “to depart and turn aside in Israel”. Matthew shared how the news of “Archelaus” ruling after his father “Herod” made Joseph afraid to return to Israel.

The verse continues, “notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:” Matthew added the word, “notwithstanding” which means “moreover and”, “being warned” or “since Joseph was advised, consulted and divinely commanded” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “in a dream” or “within a mental imagery”, “he turned aside” which means “Joseph returned and departed” “into the parts” or “in the lot, destiny and measure” “of Galilee” which refers to “that belonged to the name of a region of northern Palestine, bounded on the north by Syria, on the west by Sidon, Tyre, Ptolemais and their territories and the promontory of Carmel, on the south by Samaria and on the east by the Jordan whose name means circuit”. Matthew shared how God calmed Joseph's fears in another “dream”, and he venture into “Galilee”.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we might be able to identify with Joseph. Sometimes when we hear news of a relative replacing a person who did wickedly, we might assume that person will be just as evil as the first. God had His plan for His Son Jesus, and though Joseph was “afraid”, God was not. God calmed Joseph's fears by reassuring him it would be safe to move to “Galilee”. Let us be reminded that nothing and no one who causes fear shall alter God's plan, and Jesus regardless of who “rules” is God's intentional plan to “save” mankind from their sinful ways.

Next time Matthew shares how Joseph, “came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth” to Israel, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.