Now this early part of Jesus’ story unfolds in two parts.
The first part leading up to Matthew 2: 19-23 where God leads Joseph and Mary to marry, move to Bethlehem, then to Egypt, and finally back to Nazareth. And the second part in Luke 2: 39-40 where Jesus grows up in the small town of Nazareth and “continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”
Sometimes life feels like a detour — a wrong turn, a long wait, a lifechanging diagnosis, an unexpected change of plans, a new job and a new home. It can be something as simple as a red light or a road closed sign.
Yet God very often does his best work along the detours in our life’s story,quietly guiding, protecting, and preparing this particular family for their future and for what is to come.
But for now, today’s story begins in Matthew.
“But when Herod died, behold, 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 into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead.’” — Matthew 2: 19-20
So Joseph rose, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.
Joseph has another dream with a barricade, a road closed sign and a detour all laid out from Egypt to Nazareth. Think of a GPS recalculating your trip. You miss a turn or get backed up by the traffic or the road is closed and suddenly a voice says, “Recalculating the route.”
You didn’t plan for the detour and very likely don’t know the new route, but the GPS knows it and you simply obey the directions.
Joseph’s life must have felt like one long string of recalculations, yet God is never confused. Joseph has no idea where the road will lead, but God has it all planned out in advance. All Joseph and you and I have to do is “trust and obey, for there’s no other way!”
Maybe you can remember a time when you narrowly avoided an accident, changed lanes at the right moment, slowed down unexpectedly, or missed a flight that later ran into trouble. You didn’t know the danger, but God did!
I remember someone saying, “The safest place on earth is in the center of God’s will!”
Today, the invitation is simple: “Let God lead you; step by step, day by day, detour by detour, until you find yourself exactly where He always intended you to be.”
Charles “Buddy” Whatley is a retired United Methodist pastor serving Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville, Ga. With wife, Mary Ella, they are missionaries to the Navajo Reservation.
