Nazareth: God’s wise plan
MATTHEW 2:19-23 | GRAEME SHANKS
‘After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
So, he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.’
They always say that a grand chess master can think fifteen to twenty moves ahead. That’s seriously impressive. I’d love to be just one step ahead in life, let alone twenty.
And that’s precisely why our weary hearts need the truth of this passage as it centres on the perfect plan of the God who inhabits eternity. The God who’s bigger than world events.
Remember Herod? The bloodthirsty and paranoid King who wanted to snuff out all competitors? Well, Matthew casually tells us that he died (v.19). Just like that. It’s now safe for Jospeh, Mary and the child Jesus to return home. Or is it? When Herod died his Kingdom was divided between his 3 sons.
His son Archelaus, as it turns out, was the worst of the bunch. That’s why the family can’t return to Judea for it is the region he reigns over. On paper this looks like a classic case of out of the frying pan and into the fire for this young family. What’s going on? The plan that’s wiser than human logic.
However, the Lord is behind and above all of this. He is the one moving everything into its perfect place according to his perfect plan. This is what Matthew spiritually perceives as he refers to the plan being fulfilled (v23).
You won’t find a specific Old Testament reference to the Saviour being born in Nazareth. However, what you do find are prophecies about God’s Saviour coming in the spirit of Nazareth.
God’s promised saviour will grow up as one despised and rejected (Isa 53). Nazareth then, this place of little renown and the butt of many jokes, fits the bill perfectly.
Truly then Jesus started as he meant to go on. The life of the boy Jesus, born and raised in the town of foolishness, would end in the place of foolishness at the cross. However, the foolishness of God is wiser than man. The place of foolishness is the place of life and forgiveness. Man’s worst just plays into God’s best.
‘What good could come from Nazareth? ’asked Nathaniel (John 1:46). It’s as if Matthew is saying read on and see. You might just find more than you bargained for.
Father, we thank you that in the midst of seeming chaos that you are always working out your plan and purposes perfectly. Thank you that man’s worst just plays into your best. We praise you for sending your Son, who though he was rich became poor so that we who are poor could become rich. Amen.
