Warned of God in a Dream

I was reminded as I read Matthew’s account of the birth of the Savior again today how the Lord spoke to Joseph and guided him to protect his little family. In particular, we see four times when the Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream to warn him and show him what to do. First, as Joseph wondering what to do when he realized that Mary was with child, “Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” After he learned this, “Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS” (Matthew 1:20, 24-25). Despite the seeming impossibility, Joseph believed the angel and followed the instructions of the Lord given to the dream, thus protecting Mary and the unborn child Jesus. After taking his new family to Jerusalem, Jesus was born and Joseph stayed there with Mary and the child. Eventually Herod found out and they were in trouble: “Behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him” (Matthew 2:13). Again, despite what must have felt like a completely daunting task—Joseph would be taking his wife and new baby into an unknown country where he had never been—Joseph was obedient to the revelation that he received. And off they went to Egypt, guided by a dream from the Lord .

               Though we have few details of what happened after that, Joseph continued to be guided by the Lord through dreams as he protected his little family. We read, “But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel” (Matthew 2:19-21). An angel again revealed to Joseph in a dream what he should do, and Joseph was obedient and undertook the long and dangerous trip back from Egypt to Israel. It is possible that by this time one or more additional children had been born to Mary and Joseph, making the trip even more hazardous with more people to care for and watch over crossing the desert. They likely had very little money for the voyage, but the Lord clearly provided the way for them to return home, and Joseph obediently went forth with faith. When they arrived in Israel again, Joseph “heard that Archelaus did reign in Judæa in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee” (Matthew 2:22). The Lord kept him from danger through a dream once more that warned him to not settle in Judea, and instead Joseph followed the direction he received and settled with Mary and their children in Nazareth. Because Joseph was quick to obey the Lord and willing to trust the revelations he received, Joseph kept Jesus and his family safe and protected against the dangers that threatened them. His is a powerful example of how we should listen to the Lord and seek to diligently follow the inspiration that we receive.