Unquestioning Obedience
LENT 2022 | DAY 1
Matthew 1 and 2 (NIV)
(Aw Choon Hui, Lay Leader)
READ:
Matthew 1 & 2
These 4 verses of Joseph’s reaction to the 4 visitations by the angel of the Lord struck me (interestingly the first Joseph mentioned in the Bible also had many revelations from God in his dreams!):
1. Matt 1:24 (ESV):
“When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him…”
2. Matt 2:14 (ESV):
“And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt.”
3. Matt 2:21 (ESV):
“And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.”
4. Matt 2:22 (ESV):
“And being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.”
OBSERVE:
On each occasion, there was a command, and Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, had to make a decision whether or not to obey. Yet these were not simple decisions but life altering ones:
- taking on a life partner that was pregnant before the wedding;
- fleeing with your young family and meagre possessions under cover of darkness to a strange foreign land without any idea where to stay or for how long;
- suddenly being called back to the land where the previous ruler had mobilised the military to hunt you down and kill your newly born son;
- another warning of clear and present danger with a need to lay low in a different district.
APPLY:
- I am amazed at the unquestioning obedience of Joseph. Upon waking up from each of his dreams, he unhesitatingly obeyed the angel’s commands. There was no pondering or seeking a second opinion from his friendly neighbourhood priest. He just resolved to act in complete obedience despite great personal sacrifice and amazingly without the need to understand the why and how. I wonder if I would have readily done the same in his place? To have that same simple, absolute and complete trust that the path God is leading would be the best for my life, whatever may befall.
- Whilst the Bible does not say much about the background of Joseph, Matthew 1:19 offers a clue – “Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man…” (NLT), or “faithful to the law” (NIV). Who is a righteous man? Deuteronomy 6:24-25 defines a righteous man as one who is careful to obey God’s words and who fears Him. He puts his hope in the Lord and desires to walk in his ways.
- This passage also reminds me that walking according to God’s will is not always a bed of roses. In fact, more often than not, the Bible speaks of the hardship, danger, loneliness and persecutions of the saints who walked and carried out God’s will. Despite faithfully following the instructions of the angel, there was still no room in the whole of Bethlehem. God’s will meant having to contend with the worst possible accommodation available – smelly, dirty and unsanitary conditions for the birth of our saviour. As I seek to be an intentional disciple, I likewise need to be prepared to take up the cross daily.
DO:
This Ash Wednesday, as we begin the season of Lent to Easter, let me ask God:
- to give me the courage to live each day with unquestioning obedience in following his commands and will for my life;
- to be an intentional disciple who is willing to deny myself and take up the cross daily, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
PRAY:
Father, thank you for the example of Joseph who obeyed you even when it was inconvenient and required personal sacrifice. Give us the courage and strength to follow you with a simple, absolute trust in your goodness and love, which you showed us on Calvary. For we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
