He Protected, He Provded, He Persevered -Joseph Provided for His Family

 It seems that the family did not stay long in Egypt, for soon the angel informed Joseph that Herod was dead.  Joseph brought his family  back to their homeland.  An ancient proophecy had foretold that Jehovah would call his Son  "out of Egypt." (Matthew 2:15)  Joseph helped to fulfill that prophecy, but where would he lead his family now?

Joseph was cautious.  He wisely feared Herod's successor, Archlelaus, who was likewise vicious and murderous. Divine guidance led Joseph to take his family up north, aawy from Jersulem  and all its intrigues, back to his hometown of Nazareth in Galilee. There he and Mary raised their family. -Read MATTHEW 2:19-23. 

They led a simple life-but not an easy one.  The Bible refers to Joseph as the carpenter using a a word that embraces many ways of working with wood, such as cutting down timber, hauling it, and seasoning it for use in building houses, boats, small bridges, carts, wheels, yokes and all kinds of farm implements.  (Matthew 13:55) It was hard physical work. A carpenter in Bible times often worked near the doorway of his modest house or in a shop adjacent to it. 

Joseph used a wide range of tools, some likely handed down from his father He may have used a square, a plummet, a chalk line, a hatchet, a saw, and adze, a hammer, a malet, chisel, a drill that he worked by pulling  a bow back and forth, various glues, and perhaps some nails, through they were costly.

Next time: He Protected, He Provided, He Persevered - Joseph Provided for His Family -Conclusion

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