The three Oriental kings depart for their homes in the Far East after a warning in a dream not to reveal the location of the baby Jesus to Herod. That same night:
“…behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’ … This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I called my son’” (Mt 2:13, 15, ESV).
Matthew’s gospel is written to prove to the children of Israel, the Jews that the coming of Jesus and everything Jesus does is in strict accordance with and fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the long-awaited Messiah.
One commentary I read suggests that since the Holy Spirit is actually the father of Jesus, Joseph is just a bystander, a temporary guardian appointed solely to protect Mary and Jesus from the murderous Herod:
“…Joseph was no more than the Child’s guardian. Indeed, personally considered, Joseph has no spiritual significance, and very little place at all, in the Gospel history.”
No spiritual significance? The Cycle begs to differ, as does personal experience. How about Secret Weapon?
I understand the point, that Joseph is not the biological father of Jesus. But I have always felt that Joseph has a very spiritual significance within the bonds of marriage, something that is shared with all parents who rely on the teachings of God to head up and protect their families, often quietly and strongly, but no less significantly.
If Joseph writes off the warnings God gives him, there is no connection between the birth of Jesus and the entire royal line of David, which is critical to a Jew’s understanding of Messiah’s reality. And of course, there is no Messiah if he is killed by Herod.
Yes, he is guardian of his family, as all fathers are. But if he does not obey the warnings in the dreams, Herod wins, not God.
So, Joseph is very much in unity with God and in obedience to the commands God made to him personally. What happens if Joseph blows off the final dream and does not jump up immediately in the middle of the night to flee? Jesus is caught in the snare.
“Then Herod…sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem…Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah” (2:16-17).
After Herod dies, which is not long after by the judgment of God, Joseph:
“…went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene” (2:23).
Three ancient prophecies fulfilled, not by the will of Joseph, but by Joseph’s obedience to God’s commands in unity with God.
Joseph teaches us that unity with God is not always something dramatic and newsworthy. It is more often quiet recognition of the whisper of the Holy Spirit and obedience to a command of God. God cherishes the strong silent guardian of the faith every bit as much as the powerful preacher of the word of God.
What might God be whispering to you today? It may be more significant than you think. Quiet, obedient prayer warriors do as much to defeat Satan as on-fire evangelists.
Both are absolutely critical to eventual fulfillment of prophecies and leading others to a saving faith in Jesus in perfect unity with God, even as we still wait two thousand years later for his return.