I honestly think this is the first time that I have read this little part of the story and found that Joseph had not just one more God-dream but TWO. Verse 19 and 22 both say that Joseph had dreams about returning to Israel from Egypt. This last dream (that we know of) is the one I find interesting.

Feelings lead to prayer

Joseph had a dream and was told it was now safe to return home, so he packed up and went. Another example of trust and obey. Along the way, Joseph heard about the new ruler and was afraid, then he had another dream. But I think there was something left out here, I strongly suspect that Joseph prayed in between here. Maybe he didn’t, maybe he was more a willing heart and open mind to the guidance of our Lord. What I find interesting is that Joseph’s feelings had something to do with this episode in the drama of the early years. How often are we afraid and act for guidance from God? It takes time, but eventually we form that pattern of the heart and turn to Him immediately when we are afraid. It seems the most likely reason we have that feeling of fear: so that we turn to Him in everything.

Course correction

Joseph was afraid and then guided by God as to where to go. The conclusion of the facts that Joseph had was that they were in a bad place and it caused him to fear. God affirmed Joseph’s analysis of the situation by telling him to go elsewhere. That is how God responds, isn’t it? He comforts us and guides us in the path He has set out. In the first dream and this last one, Joseph expressed thoughts and feelings that God then responded to. It seems the prayer of his heart was full of his current needs, thoughts, and feelings. The pressure he must have felt as the earthly provider of the Son of God is unimaginable but must have been made bearable knowing that the Father accompanied him and guided him.

Just as Joseph had the responsibility of shepherding these in his care, we are all responsible for shepherding something or someone. Joseph did the shepherding as God instructed, but this was a relationship, not just a servant responding to his lord. Joseph acts and works out his obedience and has his own thoughts and feelings on things. He shares these in prayer and the Lord responds. The Lord guided and then continued speaking and guiding by another dream. We have to continually seek the lord’s will and be willing and open to hear the slight corrections to our plans.

Tests of life draw us near

Admittedly, it would be a pleasure to skirt around the dangers, fears, and pain along the road like Joseph seems to in much of the narrative, but that does not always work toward the purpose. Joseph leaves before Herod’s threat is realized, he turns away from new ruler’s threat – both times avoiding bad things. But he did have to deal with the stigma of Mary’s pregnancy a bit too early in the betrothal and marriage traditions. He had to start over in Egypt then leave that behind for yet another start. None of that is easy, as anyone who has moved will attest. But it is in the tests of life that we grow closer and closer to God. We take our responsibility, work out the obedience in caring for it (or them) and converse with God about the good and the bad. Time after time, we build our trust as we obey more and more, lean more and more. Joseph demonstrates what our lives can be like when we surrender our fear to God, when we surrender the threats and what ifs, when we trust that He will be with us and never leave us or forsake us.

Trust always

Sometimes we are spared ‘the worst’ and other times we are not, but God is with us through it all. He spoke through dreams to Joseph and even corrected the course through a dream. The trust that Joseph demonstrates from the start of the narrative is the trust that ends the narrative of the birth of our Christ. The whole story is an affirmation of God leading us and guiding us in our purpose to glorify him. He guides our hearts in all we do: we share with Him and He responds.