So it is Christmas Eve and the waiting time is nearly over.
When I think of Joseph the dreamer, I often think of Joseph in the Old Testament but that Joseph was not the only dreamer in the bible…
Part of the narrative of the Christmas story that can often be overlooked is Joseph and his dreams.
God gave Joseph advice and also warnings by an angel appearing in his dreams.
We read in scripture that Joseph was described as a just man. He wrestled with the decision about whether to take Mary to be his wife when he found out she was pregnant and God gave him the answer in a dream.
“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.”
Matthew 1:20 NKJV
Now when Joseph woke up he didn’t ignore his dream or put it down to too much cheese or an overactive imagination but he rightly believed it was a divine dream.
He believed the message was God given by the Angel and acted upon it.
“Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife”
Matthew 1:24 NKJV
That was the first of Joseph’s dreams and we read of another dream happening after the visit of the three wise men who brought their gifts to the new King. This time a warning.
“Now when they 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.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,”
Matthew 2:13-14 NKJV
Again, Joseph believes this is a divine communication and responds to the warning in the dream.
It is worth taking a moment to consider how Joseph acted and how perhaps we would have reacted to such a dream.
I really admire Joseph. He is bold and decisive. He takes the warning in the dream seriously.
At this stage there is no obvious threat or indication that Jesus is in danger but Joseph does not hesitate to obey the divine warning.
Joseph is willing to leave all that he knows. His country, family, friends, security and flee in the night under cover of darkness to a foreign country.
To step into the unknown at God’s instruction.
Joseph becomes a refugee leaving all behind to protect Jesus and be obedient to God’s Will.
All through a divine dream.
And that is not the end of Joseph’s dreams. There comes a time when the family must leave Egypt and it is time to move.
“Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 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.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 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.”
Matthew 2:19-22 NKJV
Joseph is obedient to uproot and leave Egypt and return to Israel and to go settle in Galilee.
I often wonder why the Lord chose to speak to Joseph in dreams rather than an angelic visitations such as Mary had.
As we consider this part of the Advent story, I pray that we too would be willing to receive Godly dreams and visions and not ignore if God chooses in His divine wisdom to speak to us in similar ways.
May God’s Spirit be poured out on us continually in these days.
“‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.”
Acts 2:17 NKJV
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