The Plan of God Moves Forward
God fulfills His purposes in one of two ways. The first of these two ways is by God’s performing miracles. The second way is known as divine providence. The Scriptures make it known that both are on display during the birth of Christ and the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. While both may be on display, the depths of God’s divine providence can be clearly seen in the events surrounding Christmas.
Miracles
When the Bible speaks of a miracle, what is at stake is something occurring that is outside the laws of nature. When this happens, God stops the normal flow of His creation and interjects a miracle. An example of a miracle is when Jesus walked on the water. Gravity (law of nature) would not allow such an event to occur. However, God created gravity and therefore supersedes gravity. God is not subservient to His creation in any way, shape, or form. He does as He wills and as He desires. When God seeks to identify with His creation, He does. When God decides to showcase His deity, He does.
Another example of a miracle is when God stopped the sun from setting in the book of Joshua chapter 10. When this book was written, the Bible says that an event such as this had never happened and has not happened since (Jos. 10:14). This was a miracle that defied the laws of nature. It is unexplainable through science and the normal procedures of humanity. It defies human logic and cannot be comprehended apart from saying that God performed a miracle.
Providence
Providence is something that actually seems like it would be harder. Providence is the outworking of God’s sovereignty. God is in control of all things and rules all of His creation. Nothing happens apart from God making it happen or allowing it to happen. In a sense, everything is a part of the will of God (Eph. 1:11). This would take some explaining that is beyond the scope of this article, but a drive-by approach on the subject helps.
Providence is simply the ways in which God provides for His creation in various areas and through various means. Being able to receive medical help from doctors is an example of God’s providence. God providing for people through government is an example of God’s providence. Finding twenty dollars on the sidewalk while you are out working can be an example of God’s providence.
God working through all of the events of life to fulfill His purposes and plans is providence. God working through seemingly difficult situations that may leave an individual wondering if He is even there is also an example of God’s providence. This can be clearly seen in the book of Matthew.
God working through difficult situations
First, in Matthew 1:18-25, the Scriptures tell about a man named Joseph who was betrothed to a girl named Mary. The word betrothal finds a similar modern-day comparison in the word engagement. These two were basically engaged. However, even this understanding doesn’t run deep enough. Often a modern engagement is not taken as seriously as those who were betrothed during Jesus’ day. The word held the weight of an engagement while also causing people to look at a couple as basically married.
So there’s the scene: these two were betrothed, when all of a sudden Joseph hears that Mary is pregnant. This would appear to be a major problem for Joseph, but really it was the fulfilling of God’s plan. Matthew 1:23 says that this was actually the fulfillment of a prophecy. Mary and Joseph remain together and raise Jesus.
And the plan of God steadily moves forward.
Second, in Matthew 2:1-12, the story of the wise men are told. In this story, Herod seeks to find out where Jesus is going to be born. His desire is not a good one, but rather he wants to kill Jesus. Herod has an encounter with these wise men and wants these men to tell him where Jesus is if they find Him.
At this point, the wise men leave and follow the bright star in the sky to where Jesus is. They find Jesus and give Him gifts. Then after a time, they depart, but God once again shows up and turns the situation for His good. God warns these wise men in a dream not to tell Herod where Jesus is. As a result, these wise men go back to their own country.
And the plan of God steadily moves forward.
Third, in Matthew 1:13-15, after Jesus is born, Mary and Joseph are said to have been warned of danger in a dream. They are told that they should leave where they are and go to Egypt to escape from Herod. This difficult situation that they were facing was actually the fulfillment of Scripture. In Matthew 2:15, Matthew says that a prophet foretold of Jesus as One Who would be called out of Egypt.
And the plan of God steadily moves forward.
Fourth, in Matthew 2:16-18, the Scriptures tell of Herod going into Bethlehem and killing many of the children. This is a sad event in the Scriptures, but God’s protective care was over Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as they had been warned prior to this point to depart from Bethlehem, the scene of the killing.
And the plan of God steadily moves forward.
Finally, in Matthew 2:19-23, the Scriptures tell of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus being instructed to go to Israel. As they are on their way, they hear of a man named Archelaus who was reigning over the land. This brought about fear in their hearts. However, this difficult situation was not one in which God was absent. Rather, God warns Joseph in a dream, and they head toward a place called Nazareth. As you may know, Jesus living in Nazareth was not an afterthought for God but the plan all along. Matthew tells his readers that Jesus being raised in Nazareth actually fulfilled prophecy because Jesus was to be called a Nazarene.
Summing it all up
That was a lot of Scripture in a short amount of time. What we can gain from this quick look is that in each and every difficult situation, God was actually working to fulfill His plan. It may have been hard for Joseph and Mary to see, but in each situation, God was present and His plan was moving forward.
Christmas is a great reminder of the way that God works in the various circumstances of life, whether great or small, to fulfill His purpose and plan. If you are having a difficult Christmas this year and it’s hard to find joy, know that God is not absent. Mary and Joseph had a difficult Christmas too, but God was at work and didn’t leave them for a moment.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You that You are constantly at work in my life. Help me to see and believe that You are working all things for my good this Christmas. In Jesus’ name, Amen.