Matthew 2 teaches us to trust God in every situation.
In a foreign land
Sometimes God tells us to do things that might be hard, like what Joseph and Mary did. They left their own country and moved to a foreign place. They needed God’s help to care for them and to communicate with other people, because they went to Egypt and probably didn’t speak the language.
But God provided for them in Egypt. And He brought them back again to Israel.
Why did God do things this way? Why did God let Herod persecute them? Couldn’t God have done things differently?
God sometimes chooses to do things in a way we don’t expect. Many times it is to help us grow. Even Mary and Joseph needed to learn to trust God to provide for them. How much more do we need to learn to trust God?
When we are placed in a situation we don’t know what to do, it is the best time to practice trusting God.
Mary had to trust God to give birth to Jesus. Mary had to give birth in a dirty manger (Luke 2:7)! But God provided for her and wise men visited her. They even gave her costly presents so that the family can have provisions when they go down to Egypt.
Trust God with all your heart
So also in our lives, we need to practice trusting God in everything. When we trust Him, He will provide for us.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Another reason God did things this way is to show that Jesus fulfilled everything in the Law that no one among the Israelites could fulfill (because no one could live perfectly). But Jesus lived perfectly. Like Jacob’s family (the first Israelites) who went down to Egypt (Genesis 50), Jesus also went down to Egypt.
Then Jesus and His family were called back to Israel. So they experienced what the Israelites experienced. God wanted them to experience that so that Jesus can be the Savior who understands His people’s sufferings.
“Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:17-18)
What do you think? Can you trust God in everything big or small? What can you trust God with in your life?
Read Matthew 2 (NIV) in the Bible. See other lessons in the Gospel of Matthew.