December 5, 2024 Devo

December 5th, 2024

“It’s All About Jesus!”
The Birth of Jesus – The Prophecies
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.” – Hosea 11:1 (NLT)
“God Is There Ahead of Time”

What if I told you that God was putting some things in place that would be there exactly when you needed them? He does that you know. While we live mostly in the moment, God lives in the moments that are yet to come.
Take a look at our verse for today. Matthew cites this verse as a prophecy about Joseph and Mary escaping to Egypt with Jesus when He was just a small baby. If you remember the storyline, the Wise Men who came from the East asked Herod where the newborn “king of the Jews” could be found. When Herod consulted his Jewish advisors, they told him that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. So Herod told the Wise Men to go find the child and then to come let him know where He could be found so that he, too, could worship Him.
But Herod had no intention of worshipping the child. He wanted to kill Him. When the Wise Men didn’t return because they had been warned by God, Herod decided to kill ALL the boys in the region under the age of 2 just to make sure he got Him. But he didn’t. Why? Because God warned Joseph and Mary and had them take Jesus to Egypt to live until Herod died. To make sure no one would think it was just a coincidence, God had the prophet write about it—700 years before it happened. Wow!
Relax. That mess you just stepped into? God saw it coming a mile away. And while you’ve been living in all the moments that led up to this one, God’s been living in this one getting everything ready for you. He’s prepared with what you need. He has solutions already worked out. He has been bringing pieces together, preparing the way, and waiting for you to arrive. And while it may feel chaotic and out of control, nothing could be further from the truth. God is working, God is acting, and God is moving. Listen to His voice, follow His direction, and trust in His leading. Going to Egypt was nowhere on Joseph’s and Mary’s radar when they went to Bethlehem for Jesus to be born. It was not a part of their plan. But it was a part of God’s. We often marvel at how God works and will say, “God is always right on time!” But that’s not true. He’s ahead of time. That’s God’s Word for you today.