Protect the Promise

Mathew 2:13-15 “ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

What a wake up call! This angelic visit must’ve been rather alarming to Mary and Jospeh, not to mention daunting. We don’t know exactly how old Jesus was when they received this instruction but we do know he was young enough that the grueling journey to Bethlehem was still probably fresh in both their minds. Just when they thought it was time to settle in, a very real threat to the promise of Jesus emerged.

So, the faithfully obedient parents once again found themselves in a place of trusting the Lord with the unknown. Imagine having to leave in the middle of the night and face a dangerous exhausting journey and have no idea what awaited. They didn’t know the plan past the instruction but they knew “to protect” was promised and it meant obedience. Radical trust that walked moment by moment, trusting God knew the journey though they did not.

There are times that you’ll have to contend for the promise the Lord has given you. The enemy will always try to steal what isn’t his, but when you place the gift in God’s hands following His instruction you will see the preserving hand of a Mighty God. If you’ve been jolted by a threat to your promise, wait for the instruction of the Lord. He will speak and His instruction may only have one step at a time, seeing nothing past the moment. It may be scary, uncomfortable and daunting but your obedience is protecting your promise.

The threat will come, but so will the victory and the fulfillment of God’s word. You want to protect what has been promised? Obey His instruction and you’ll be protected walking in His perfect will.

Pastor Natalie Snider