Lesson 4: Angels Protect Baby Jesus

1. There were many attempts to kill Jesus before He went to the cross; and Herod killing the babies in Nazareth was one of them. (Killed maybe 20 babies).

2. This lesson shows the work of guardian angels. “These little ones . . . their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in

heaven” (Matt. 18:10).

3. God uses angels to protect us. “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby, some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb. 12:2).

4. Matt. 3:13-15, 19-23, ELT. “And after the wisemen left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to Egypt, because Herod will search for

Him and kill Him. Stay there until I tell you to come back home.’ During the middle of the night they left for Egypt and stayed there until Herod died, thus fulfilling an Old Testament prediction, ‘I will

call My Son from Egypt.’ After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, ‘Get up, and take the child and His mother back to the land of Israel.’ Joseph had heard that

Archelaus took his father Herod’s place, so he was afraid to go back to the Jerusalem area. Having been warned by an angel, Joseph settled down in Nazareth, thus fulfilling scripture. ‘He (Christ) will be called a Nazarene.’”

5. Human responsibility. God protects us by telling us how to protect ourselves. “Arise, take the young child” (v. 13).

SELF PROTECTION

• Dangers to our health

• Dangers from lawlessness

• Dangers to our financial security

• Dangers from false teachers

• Dangers from Satan. Pray daily “Deliver us from

the Evil One”

6. Don’t ask God to do miraculously, what He expects us to do with our intellect, strength and planning.

7. After you have done everything to protect yourself, commit your safety to God. “He who dwells in the secret place of prayer of the Most High, will abide in the protective shadow of the Almighty” (Ps.

91:1).

PROTECTION PROMISED IN PSALM 91

• God will rescue you from evil traps (v. 3, 5).

• God will protect you from disease and pestilence (v. 3, 6).

• God will be with you in disaster (v. 6).

• Evil will not touch you (v. 7).

8. God protects us to accomplish His purpose. “God will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from breaking your feet on a stone . . . The Lord says, I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in My name . . . I will satisfy them with long life, and give them my salvation” (Ps. 91:11-16).

9. While God protects us, it doesn’t mean we won’t have trials, hardships, temptations, and sickness. Some of those are used to bring glory to God. But nothing will deter God’s will in our life as long as

we trust Him.

“A person is immortal until God is finished with him.”

–Charles Spurgeon

10. God has a destination for us. We must choose the road, plan our trip and find resources. “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” (Prov. 16:9).

11. God knows the dangers ahead, but we must be in a good relationship with God so He can lead us around them. “For Herod will seek the young child to destroy him” (v. 13). “If you make the Lord your refuge . . . no evil will conquer you” (Ps. 91: 9-10).

12. Most of the time, we see God’s plan after the fact, not while we are in the dark. Most Jews couldn’t understand why God said their Messiah

would come from Egypt or be called a Nazarene (v. 15, 23).

13. The heavenly Father was very involved in the life of baby Jesus, but God used the human parenting skills of Joseph and Mary.

14. Sometimes we live and do things that are uncomfortable or embarrassing. Joseph and Mary returned to Nazareth.

15. Jesus was born into a human experience. He lived in the midst of trials, pressures and dangers. God did not allow His Son to be brought up in a “no-pressure-environment.” “Though He was a Son,

[yet] He learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Heb.5:8).

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.