God May Have Another Plan
And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country another way. (Matthew 2:12)
Matt. 2:10-13; Prov. 3:13, 17, 14:12, and 27:6; Jer. 29:11-13; Col. 3:1-3
What Is God Saying?
God speaks to us in many ways-through the beauty of nature, through the counsel of trusted friends, through doors that open and doors that close and, supremely, through the sacred Scriptures as the Holy Spirit applies the truth to our hearts. Sometimes, as we learn in today's verse, He communicates through a dream. We read that when the wise men followed a star to Christ, they "rejoiced exceedingly with great joy". They completed their long and costly mission. They were now able to face any obstacle, even Herod. Then God gave them another plan, a better plan.
He gave them a dream, and it dealt with harsh reality. It was like the dream Joseph had, "Don't do that. Do this instead. Don't settle down here, but leave quickly for Egypt." Both dreams were given and accepted as warnings. Dreams are usually unreliable guides to action, but God used this method several times in Scripture to reveal His will. Because the wise men and Joseph took seriously the warnings that came from God in a dream, the infant Jesus was saved to become the redeemer of the world.
How Does This Apply To Us?
However they come, we should heed God's warnings. Sometimes a warning is very clear, as when it leaps from the pages of Scripture and tells us right from wrong, good from evil, and the consequences of each. Sometimes it comes from a friend who speaks the truth in love-"Faithful are the wounds of a friend." May God give us minds that are open and wills that are responsive to the warnings he gives in love. May God help us to avoid the "way that seems right to a person but whose end is the way to death" (Prov. 14:12). May he show us the right way whose end is the way of life.
Pray With Me
O God, I often seek your comfort and joy, your approval and blessing. Give me the wisdom and humility to listen to your warning, not to my fears, and the discernment to know the difference. Give me grace to accept the unpleasant word that may come from Scripture or from a faithful friend, or from you in times of prayer. The wise men were wise to seek Jesus, and they were wise to walk in the way you told them. "There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death." O God, rather than the way that seems right to humans, I want the way that is right to God, and its end will be the way of life.
For the assurance that life will be mine eternally, for him who came to warn us of danger and direct our steps in the perfect way, for all this and for all the goodness that yet lies beyond my finite comprehension, I praise and thank you.
Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Moving On In The Life Of Prayer
God's way is always right, but it may not always be clear. Prayer is like tuning an analog radio to a certain station. When we are almost but not quite on the right frequency, we have a garbled and distorted voice that makes little or no sense. Sometimes the sounds are pleasing and inspiring. At other times, it may be a voice giving us a warning of imminent danger. Prayer is setting our souls precisely on God. Prayer is "setting our minds on things that are above" (Col. 3:1) so we can do the right things on earth.
