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

A group of men arrived, astrologers from the East, likely from far away Babylon.  They had followed a "star"  to the home of Joseph and Mary and were looking for a child who was to become king of the Jews. The men were deeply respectful. 

Whether they knew it or not, the astrologers had put little Jesus in geat peril.  The "star" they had seen let them first, not to Bethlehem, but to Jerusalem.  There they told wicked King Herod they were looking for  child who was to become king of the Jews. Their report filled the man with jealous rage. 

Happily, though, there were forces greater than Herod or Satan at work.  How so? Well, when the visitors reached Jesus' house and saw him with his mother, they brought gifts,  asking nothing in return.  How strange it must have  been for Joseph and Mary to find themselves suddenly in possession  of "gold and frankinsense and myrrh"-vauable commodities! The astrologers intended to go back and tell King Herod just where they had found the child. However, Jehovah intervened.  By means of a dream, he insructed the astrologers to return home by another route.  Read MATTHEW 2:1-12.

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

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