3 Prophetic Statements

3 Prophetic Statements

Sometimes life seems out of control and our response to the problems and difficulties we see around us is to fear. We worry that God either doesn’t know or doesn’t care about what is going on. We worry that evil is getting the upper hand. We worry that God can’t stop the terrible things that are happening, or that God somehow has stopped caring about them. We worry that somehow the world around us is rushing towards a future that is beyond the grasp of God’s eyes and His loving hand.

But the study of scripture paints a very different picture. As I study God’s Word I become more and more convinced that nothing in this world is an accident. That God is sovereign over the affairs of men. And that God’s plan of redemption and love will not be thwarted or stopped by the forces of darkness and evil in this world.

Terrible things do happen. And life consists of a lot of suffering and pain. But God has won the victory through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And one day everything will make perfect sense.

The fulfilled prophecies of the Old and New Testament help to build this confidence in my heart and soul. A God who knows yesterday, today and tomorrow can certainly be trusted to guide my steps and direct my paths. I can confidently place my life into His hands.

The stories of Jesus’ childhood offer proof of God’s loving protective hand and of His plan and purpose of redemption for me and for you. Three key events can be seen in the second chapter of Matthew. Please turn with me to Matthew 2:13-23

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared* to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."

14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."

16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. 17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

18 "A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH,

WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING,

RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN;

AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED,

BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE."

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared* in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 20 "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." 21 So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Matt 2:13-23 (NASB)

God’s plan involves His Son and our connection to Him.

1. God calls His son (and us) to come out of Egypt.

2. God calls His son as a willing sacrifice. Those associated with Christ must expect suffering as well.

3. God calls His son to bear our reproach.

God calls His son (and us) to come out of Egypt.

Look with me at verses 13 to 15.

Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared* to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."

14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."

Matt 2:13-15 (NASB)

We see in this passage the cosmic battle between God and His plan for mankind’s salvation, and Satan and his desire to destroy the Messiah and to thwart God’s plan for mankind. Joseph is warned in a dream of Herod’s evil plot and he departs for Egypt.