Joseph and Mary

The story of Joseph and Mary living in Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus and the visit of the wisemen especially struck me back in 2018 .

Matthew 2:9-11, When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. 

The wisemen entered the house and presented their gifts to the infant King and then turned for home intending to return via Jerusalem to give Herod the word he had requested and that they had agreed to bring – a report on their findings.  However, God intervened and told the wisemen, “Don’t go.”  They only needed to be told once by God and they obeyed departing for home another way (a great example for us!).

I’m curious on what “another way” meant.  Bethlehem is only 6 miles south of Herod so what alternate route was sufficient to get them home safely?  Why did Herod not pursue the wisemen for standing him up?  I believe the wisemen were traveling with a significant armed escort.  Herod was smart enough not to engage this force and possibly draw Rome into some conflict that could cost him his governorship.  He let them go.

Since the wisemen found Mary and Joseph in a house a number of months after the birth, it is apparent that they had settled there to rear the Infant of the line of David of Bethlehem since He was declared the Messiah by the angels and Bethlehem was the town of David’s youth.  Now Bethlehem is not a metropolis for Micah 5:2 declares it not the least among the villages of Judah implying it was considered small and of no significant consequence outside of some rich history.  So, Joseph and Mary were among the folk of the town. They worshipped together, helped one another with projects, met others at the local source of water, and fellowshipped with neighbors.  Surely Mary knew all the other young mothers and their children – there weren’t many and they all “shopped” at the same places.

Upon the wisemen leaving, God spoke to Joseph a second time telling him to leave Bethlehem immediately.  Joseph only needed to be told once (again a great example for us!).  So, Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus departed for the Nile River and some Jewish colonies in the land of Egypt.  Maybe that very next day or at least soon Herod’s storm troopers entered Bethlehem and killed all the boys two and under.

So, Joseph took his family away right after the wisemen’s visit which was followed by a slaughter of toddlers.  I’m pretty convinced that the town folk could do the math.  Joseph and Mary returned to Israel after God had told Joseph, now living in Egypt, that Herod had died.  Joseph was still thinking the right place to rear the descendent of David and the heir to his throne was Bethlehem – until God told him not to settle at Bethlehem so he turned to Nazareth.  The primary reason for Nazareth was to hide Jesus in a place rejected by the hierarchy.  For after all, “What good thing comes out of Nazareth?”  Furthermore, coming out of Nazareth of Galilee fulfilled Isaiah 9:2.  Thirdly, it is likely that the Bethlehem people would know the new family from Egypt and still be grieving and angry.  While lacking direct proof, they would have had enough to connect dots and make life bitter for the family.

God, in His wisdom and grace, moved the family to safety in a place contrary to Joseph’s thinking as to what God’s will might be.  Joseph could look back on the events of those years and give God glory.

The angel “choir” declared: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased,” (ESV).  What is Christmas about?  God giving a man wisdom, safety, and peace and that man giving God glory.  Joseph surely found God’s will a challenge but also that God was good to him thus worthy of praise.  Joseph had many reasons to “give God glory”!  So do we!  Do we??