Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Matthew 2:13-15 (NKJV)

 

God will protect us both from dangers and in the face of danger.

We should learn from Joseph, who followed the angel's warning and fled to Egypt with his family. Joseph did not hesitate to obey, even in the face of personal discomfort and hardship. That act of obedience protected for his family and him until Herod's demise.

There will be times in our lives when we shall suffer more because of our obedience rather than our disobedience. Persecution is one example. As followers of Jesus, we should expect and prepare for persecution. Jesus tells us to see persecution as a blessing, even to rejoice and glad, for a great reward is waiting for us in heaven (Matthew 5:10-12).

We live in a culture that prioritises comfort, leisure, and pleasure. However, if we do not follow His Spirit leading, we shall find ourselves in difficulties. God will not abandon or forsake us, but our disobedience will cost us dearly. As a result, we suffer needless loss and pain. They are in no way punishments from God, but rather the consequence of failing to act in faith.

It is crucial to remember that our faith does not protect us from pain, suffering, or misery. However, we have a God who can use them for both our good and His glory. Trusting Him gives us hope and strength to go through challenging times, as well as grace to overcome them.