DECISIONS
«But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod,
he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee”
(Matthew 2:22).
Today’s verse, Matthew 2:22, allows us to take a peek into three decision taken by three different people in the Bible.
Archelaus. He was the worst of the sons of Herod the Great; he ordered the death of about three thousand Jews. Due to his tyranny and incompetence, he ruled for only ten years. He lost the privilege of having Jesus as a citizen of his kingdom. What are you doing, that might keep Jesus from ruling in your heart?
Herod the Great. He sent to find the Messiah, not to worship Him but to destroy Him, because he considered Him to be a threat to his throne. He persecuted, killed, and punished innocent people. Due to his jealousy, he killed one of his nine wives and two of his own sons. His life ended in a terrible death. How far can jealousy and distrust take you!
Joseph. Following the indications of the angel of the Lord, Joseph emigrated to Egypt with Mary and the child. For most of His childhood, Jesus was a refugee, fleeing for His life. When Herod died, they were divinely guided to Nazareth of Galilee, a community where Jews and Gentiles lived together peacefully. They lived in a rural, less prestigious area of Nazareth for the next thirty years, thus fulfilling the prophecy that the Messiah would be a Nazarene. God’s plans are always perfect. Let Him lead you by the hand.
‘God could not trust His beloved Son with men, even while carrying forward His work for their salvation. He commissioned angels to attend Jesus and protect Him till He should accomplish His mission on earth, and die by the hands of those whom He came to save.”—The Desire of Ages, ch. 6, p. 67.
Are you being persecuted? Were you forced to leave your home? Have you been attacked? Does someone want to take your job or destroy your good name? Ask God for wisdom to decide between not defending yourself, leaving, or confronting those who seek to harm you. The first twelve years of Jesus’s childhood are still a mystery for us in large part, but what we do know is that when Jesus appeared on the stage again, He wasn’t resentful of those who persecuted Him, against the temple, or against those who worshipped there.
We find Him in the temple, worshipping God and attending to His Father’s business. If the King of kings fled before the persecution of the enemy, why do we so stubbornly want to defend ourselves?
There is time to flee, a time to keep silent, and a time to return with praises in order to defend heavenly matters.
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Taken from: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2023
“DAUGHTER OF MINE” Do Not Be Afraid
From: Arsenia Fernandez-Uckele
Collaborators: Angelica Cuate & Esteban Cortes