I can’t write a series of Christmas vignettes without a shout-out to Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father. He doesn’t get much press, and nothing he said was recorded, but he was a faithful man.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1.18 – 21, ESV)

Now when [the wise men] had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2.13 – 15, ESV)

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. (Matthew 2.19 – 23, ESV)

Four dreams, five obedient responses:

• Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife – he did that
• Call his name Jesus – yes he did!
• Rise and take the child and his mother to Egypt – “And he rose and took the child by night” – immediate obedience!
• Rise, take the child and his mother back to Israel – and he did
• Don’t go to Judea – so he went to Nazareth

God led Joseph by means of dreams. Tomorrow, we’ll look at another way God led a character in the Christmas story. No matter how God leads, my responsibility is to respond in obedience.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14.15, ESV)