Radical Obedience: Trusting God's Plan Amid Fear

 

Summary

In our journey through the book of Matthew, we find ourselves at the end of Jesus' childhood, a period that is sparsely documented in the scriptures. This week, we focus on Matthew 2:19-23, a passage that might seem transitional but holds profound insights. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus have fled to Egypt to escape Herod's wrath, a reminder of the enemy's relentless attempts to thwart God's plans throughout history. Yet, God's providence is evident as He prepares the way for their return to Israel after Herod's death. This passage invites us to reflect on the nature of fear and obedience. Fear is a natural part of life, but the critical question is whether we allow it to lead us away from God or into deeper obedience to Him.

Joseph's journey is a testament to radical obedience. Despite the comfort and stability Egypt offered, Joseph heeded God's call to return to Israel, a land fraught with uncertainty. This decision mirrors the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, leaving behind the known for the unknown, trusting in God's promises. Joseph's obedience paved the way for Jesus to grow up in Nazareth, a seemingly insignificant town that held significant prophetic fulfillment. It is a reminder that God's plans often unfold in unexpected ways and places.

As we consider Joseph's example, we are challenged to examine our own lives. Are we ready to obey God's call, even when it disrupts our plans or leads us into the unknown? Radical obedience requires trust in God's timing and His ability to prepare the way before us. It may not always lead to immediate fulfillment of promises, but it aligns us with God's greater purposes, sometimes beyond our lifetime. Just as Joseph's obedience set the stage for Jesus' ministry, our obedience can have far-reaching impacts, even if we do not see them in our lifetime.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Hidden Treasures in Scripture: Often, we overlook transitional passages in the Bible, yet they can hold profound insights. As we study God's Word, we should pause and meditate on these seemingly insignificant verses, for they may contain hidden treasures that deepen our understanding of God's character and plans. [02:14]

2. Fear and Obedience: Fear is a natural part of life, but it should not lead us away from God. Instead, we must practice leading our fear into obedience to God. This requires a heart prepared to trust in God's promises and His timing, even when circumstances are uncertain or challenging. [06:20]

3. Radical Obedience: Joseph's obedience to God's call to return to Israel, despite the comfort of Egypt, exemplifies radical obedience. This kind of obedience requires us to trust in God's plans and timing, even when they disrupt our own. It challenges us to be ready to move or stay as God directs, without a formula but with a heart willing to follow. [11:04]

4. God's Preparation: When we walk in obedience, we discover that God has prepared the way before us. This preparation may involve others who are also obedient to God's call. Our obedience can have far-reaching impacts, sometimes beyond our lifetime, as God uses us to fulfill His greater purposes. [24:38]

5. The Significance of Nazareth: Jesus' upbringing in Nazareth, a seemingly insignificant town, fulfilled prophetic words and positioned Him for His future ministry. This reminds us that God's plans often unfold in unexpected ways and places, and our obedience can set the stage for His work in ways we may not immediately see. [31:50]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:14] - The Hidden Treasures in Scripture
- [06:20] - Fear and Obedience
- [11:04] - Radical Obedience
- [12:54] - Personal Testimony of Obedience
- [16:30] - Leaving the Known for the Unknown
- [17:28] - The Challenge of Obedience
- [18:44] - The Significance of Egypt
- [21:15] - Returning to Israel
- [24:38] - God's Preparation
- [27:36] - The Significance of Nazareth
- [28:34] - The Landscape of Jesus' Childhood
- [31:50] - Prophetic Fulfillment
- [35:10] - The Patience of God's People
- [40:47] - The Call to Radical Obedience

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 2:19-23
- Isaiah 11:1-4

#### Observation Questions
1. What circumstances led Joseph, Mary, and Jesus to flee to Egypt, and what prompted their return to Israel? [06:20]
2. How does the sermon describe Joseph's response to God's instructions through dreams? [06:20]
3. What significance does the sermon attribute to Jesus growing up in Nazareth? [31:50]
4. How does the sermon compare Joseph's obedience to the Israelites' exodus from Egypt? [16:30]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Joseph's obedience to God's call reflect the theme of radical obedience discussed in the sermon? [11:04]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that fear can lead to either disobedience or deeper obedience to God? [06:20]
3. How does the sermon interpret the significance of Nazareth in fulfilling prophetic words about Jesus? [31:50]
4. What does the sermon imply about the long-term impact of obedience, even if the results are not seen in one's lifetime? [24:38]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt called to leave a place of comfort for the unknown. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [16:30]
2. Consider a current fear in your life. How can you lead this fear into obedience to God, as discussed in the sermon? [06:20]
3. Joseph's obedience set the stage for Jesus' ministry. What small acts of obedience can you commit to this week that might have a larger impact in the future? [24:38]
4. The sermon highlights the hidden treasures in seemingly insignificant scripture passages. How can you incorporate a practice of deeper meditation on scripture in your daily routine? [02:14]
5. Think about a situation where God's timing disrupted your plans. How did you handle it, and what might you do differently in the future to align with God's timing? [11:04]
6. How can you prepare your heart for radical obedience, even when it might lead to unexpected or challenging circumstances? [40:47]
7. Reflect on the significance of Nazareth in Jesus' life. How can you find meaning and purpose in the "Nazareths" of your own life, where things may seem insignificant or overlooked? [31:50]

Devotional

Day 1: Discovering Hidden Treasures in Scripture
In the journey of faith, it is easy to overlook the seemingly insignificant passages in the Bible. However, these transitional verses often hold profound insights into God's character and His plans. By pausing and meditating on these scriptures, believers can uncover hidden treasures that deepen their understanding of God's work in the world. This practice encourages a more attentive and reflective approach to Bible study, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal truths that might otherwise be missed. [02:14]

"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law." (Psalm 119:18, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a specific Bible passage you have skimmed over recently? Take time today to read it slowly and ask God to reveal its deeper meaning to you.


Day 2: Transforming Fear into Obedience
Fear is a natural emotion that everyone experiences, but it should not lead us away from God. Instead, fear can be transformed into an opportunity for deeper obedience to Him. This requires a heart prepared to trust in God's promises and His timing, even when circumstances are uncertain or challenging. By leading fear into obedience, believers can experience peace and assurance in God's faithfulness, knowing that He is in control of every situation. [06:20]

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" (Psalm 56:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a fear you are currently facing. How can you actively choose to trust God and obey Him in this situation today?


Day 3: Embracing Radical Obedience
Joseph's decision to return to Israel despite the comfort of Egypt exemplifies radical obedience. This kind of obedience requires trusting in God's plans and timing, even when they disrupt personal plans or lead into the unknown. It challenges believers to be ready to move or stay as God directs, without relying on a formula but with a heart willing to follow. Radical obedience aligns individuals with God's greater purposes, sometimes beyond their lifetime, and can have far-reaching impacts. [11:04]

"And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'" (1 Samuel 15:22, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where God is calling you to radical obedience? What steps can you take today to align with His direction?


Day 4: Trusting in God's Preparation
When believers walk in obedience, they discover that God has prepared the way before them. This preparation may involve others who are also obedient to God's call, creating a network of faithfulness that fulfills His greater purposes. Obedience can have far-reaching impacts, sometimes beyond one's lifetime, as God uses individuals to accomplish His plans. Trusting in God's preparation requires faith in His sovereignty and a willingness to be part of His unfolding story. [24:38]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you saw God's preparation in your life. How can you trust Him to prepare the way for you in a current situation?


Day 5: Recognizing the Significance of Nazareth
Jesus' upbringing in Nazareth, a seemingly insignificant town, fulfilled prophetic words and positioned Him for His future ministry. This reminds believers that God's plans often unfold in unexpected ways and places. Obedience to God's call can set the stage for His work in ways that may not be immediately visible. Recognizing the significance of seemingly small or overlooked aspects of life can lead to a greater appreciation of God's intricate design and purpose. [31:50]

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days." (Micah 5:2, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area of your life that seems insignificant. How might God be using it to fulfill His purposes? What steps can you take to align with His work in this area?

Quotes


It might be one of these transitional passages that you've read or heard many times in your life or things, and it doesn't seem like it's filled with very much information. And one of the things I want to encourage you that as we are studying and going through the book of Matthew, that those passages that normally you kind of just breeze by, you would actually kind of, like, pause a second. [00:02:36]

Because there could be hiding in the midst of something that just seems transitional sentences could actually be a wealth of something. Something to meditate upon, kind of a hidden treasure of the Lord. And so in verse 19, we come, if you remember at the end of last week, Joseph and Mary, you know, Joseph took Mary and the baby, and they fled from Bethlehem by the word of the Lord before Herod goes in and tries to kill the future king. [00:04:25]

Fear is a normal part of life the question is what do you do with your fear do you lead your fear into obedience to god or do you allow your fear to allow you to be disobedient to god and these are the things that you have to practice these are the things you have to think about because everybody will become afraid at some point everybody will go through a season of fear at some point and people who are not prepared in their heart and their spirit to recognize that truth then then that all of a sudden you begin to discover do i run away from god because i'm afraid do i take my life and the situation and the power of my own hands or am i willing to trust the lord am i willing to trust the word of the lord am i willing to trust who god is these are the questions [00:08:50]

And then all of a sudden, I get this word from God confirmed by three different people in very strong, direct, clear words from God that they could never have known. Two through dreams, one through just wisdom of an elder, 80 year old woman, nothing like an 80 year old widow praying for you. And then they come to a word to give to you. You bet. You bet. You bet. You bet. You bet. You bet. You bet. You bet. You bet. better listen. And then it helped because she gave me first a hamburger and a milkshake. And then she basically was like, get, stop, stop procrastinating. I thought, Lord, if this really is from you, well, I don't want, you know, I had just signed a new lease on my apartment and I don't want my owners to be out of a tenant. [00:12:04]

And then within 10 days, there was a new family coming to Budapest as missionaries, needed a place to live and needed exactly the size of apartment and price and took over my lease. And then there were a bunch of refugees that come and several friends of mine were working at a refugee center. And they said, we desperately need household items. So all of my things that I had like accumulated over three and a half, four years, I had to buy a new apartment. And I had to I was able to give away in an instant. And I came down to even I thought, well, I have three bags and I didn't want to have, you know, I didn't want to have to pay for luggage. So I even [00:13:38]

where is your heart and obedience when god speaks when we see these small little passages we think of course he had a dream he had a vision he went back to israel yay but that's not so simple why egypt was far better egypt was more stable egypt was safer egypt was more developed this was one of the major centers of power and an authority this is where learning and there was huge Jewish community that Egypt had better like even at that particular time the weather was better like everything was better and then who is this poor man Joseph if it had been another century Joseph might have become king of Israel and instead he's had to flee from his life he had did like died to his pride and now he's just seeing baby Jesus who still just baby Jesus [00:14:42]

What we don't know is more fearful than even the life of a slave that we knew. We knew where our food was. We knew what our jobs were. We had a structure, a community, a hierarchy. We had expectation. Everything was there. But sometimes when God speaks, he says, oh, move. [00:17:21]

Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Jared Herod he was afraid to go there and being warned and a dream he withdrew to a district in Galilee now think about that Herod was a tyrant and his son was a petty imbecile compared to his father [00:22:18]

proper King will be on his throne he held the promises of God in his heart for the timing of God and it's amazing how God prepared the way for Joseph when you walk in obedience one of the things you will always discover is God has prepared the way before you a lot of times in ministry and in missions we talk about those who go and like create the path and you know the tip of the spear and and and the ones who were going out first but this is the truth God has always gone before you and the Lord has always prepared things that you could never have imagined and sometimes yes your life can be put on hold while things are being prepared because unfortunately or fortunately or blessing or providence God uses people God uses people to prepare God uses people to be in obedience to his word and there could be people who are disobeying God and it could hold up your life and because God is not a tyrant or a puppet master he's patient and that might mean your promises get passed on to your children or your children's children [00:25:03]

And all of this because Joseph was obedient. Because Joseph feared the Lord and honored God. We have the Messiah who has come. [00:39:13]

We need to practice radical obedience. We need to have an expectation of obedience. If God says stay the course, you stay the course. If God says to move, you move. If he says it's time to move, and then you say where. [00:40:22]

There's some legends about it, but he died in Nazareth or nearby, never seeing what his son would become, but prepared everything for him to be who he was called to be. [00:41:20]

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Transcript
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