Matthew 2:13–23 – God’s Plan Cannot Be Stopped
I) Joseph Obeys God.
A) The Surprising Command: God commands Joseph to immediately flee to __________.
B) The Cost of Obedience:
1) God sent them to Egypt—a land where Israel had historically ____________ greatly.
2) They were far from their ____________ home, surrounded by people who worshiped other gods.
3) They were told to _________ there until God gave further instruction.
C) The _____________ Fulfillment of Hosea 11:1:
1) Hosea spoke of Israel as God’s son, exiled but eventually _____________.
2) Matthew applies this to Jesus—the true Son who will save His people from the spiritual ___________ of sin.
II) Herod Tries to Destroy God’s Plan.
A) Herod’s Cruelty: He orders the __________ of Bethlehem’s boys.
B) Lament and Hope: The mother’s weeping fulfilled Jeremiah 31:15.
1) Originally, mothers wept for sons who would die in _________.
2) Jeremiah’s words also carried ________—God promised their descendants would return.
3) Jeremiah also spoke of God’s future redemption of his ___________.
C) Joseph and Mary return to Israel after Herod’s death.
1) They settled in the small village of ____________.
2) This also fulfilled prophecy.
a) Matthew may be alluding to Isaiah 11:1—the word “Nazareth” ____________ the Hebrew word for “branch.”
b) Being from Nazareth also points to the Messiah being _____________ and humble (Isaiah 53:3).
D) God will use Jesus to ____________ his people.
III) God works the same way for us today.
A) Jesus’s redemption is ____________ to us.
B) God can call us to unusual and _____________ places as well.
What could God be calling you to?
C) We can be assured that evil _________ overcome God’s plan for our lives.