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David W Palmer

(Matthew 1:20, 24–25 NKJV) But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. ...” {24} Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, {25} and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.

Angels attended the birth of Jesus; God sent them with messages about him, and he charged them with his Son’s protection. We also see in this passage that God sent an angel to quell Joseph’s fears about marrying Mary—seeing she had become pregnant out of wedlock independently of him. God also instructed Joseph through the angel: “Take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”

Amazingly, Joseph did as the angel commanded him in this first encounter. This shows the humility of heart required in a person God chooses for such an important mission. He was humble enough to obey the angel in every last detail: he completed his marriage to Mary; and with extraordinary temperance, “did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.” And finally, he obediently named him Jesus, just as the angel instructed him:

(Luke 2:21 NKJV) … His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Later, God again deployed the angel to tell Joseph to move to Egypt to keep Jesus safe, and then when to return and where to settle:

(Matthew 2:13–14 NKJV) Now when they (the wise men) had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” {14} When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt.

(Matthew 2:19–22 NKJV) Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, {20} saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” {21} Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. {22} But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.

We learn several profound truths for our lives from these passages:

1. God deploys angels to support Jesus and those assigned to help his mission. They are working with you today—not only to protect you, but also to help you when you step out in faith in Jesus’s name.

1. This story especially highlights the vulnerability of Jesus when he was first received into the lives of Mary and Joseph. This pictures for us his similar vulnerability when he is first received into the life of a new believer (conceived in them). The babyhood stage of the Jesus-life is particularly exposed; and those around his new birth are also susceptible to life-threatening attacks. God sends angels today to help those who are newly born again, and those assigned to guard, guide, and feed them—like the evangelists who led them to the new birth, and the follow up workers responsible for their nurture:

(Psalm 91:11 NKJV) For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

(Hebrews 1:14 NLT) Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

Today, we can receive great encouragement from the story surrounding the birth of Jesus: 

First, we have seen the humility and submissiveness of Joseph—the first new birth follow-up shepherd, if you like. He was humble: he received God’s messenger as bringing a word directly from God; he instantly obeyed the instructions