His plan was for all of mankind

When I was young we lived in many parts of Malaysia before I left to study in Canada in 1980. I was born in Sg Petani, lived on the island of Langkawi, the city of Alor Setar, then Petaling Jaya and then Johor Bahru and back to Petaling Jaya. It was challenging to keep friendships when you move so much and there is no way of staying in touch, unlike social media today.

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus had the same experience. He was born in Bethlehem, moved to Egypt for a time and then settled in Nazareth. These moves of Jesus were very much what God directed through Joseph. These eventful moves were not only told to Joseph but were prophesied hundreds of years earlier through different prophets. One such prophecy is this one in the Gospel according to Matthew.

Matthew 2:4-6

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’

The plan was clear from the beginning. There was a plan and it was executed. Jesus came according to the plan. After He was born in Bethlehem, the family hid in Egypt because of the slaughter pronounced by Herod on children 2 years and younger. Another prophesy fullfilled. After a time the family, instead of moving back to Judea, moved to the region of Galilea and settled in Nazareth. This is another prophesy fulfilled. The most interesting observation I am making in this chapter is that the wise men of the East had their own prophesy that was not given to them through the Old Testament. It was in their own ancient writings or thoughts.

Matthew 2:1-2

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

This implies that God had a global plan announced to more than the Jews. I would extrapolate this to mean that all our forefathers from ancient times have a story of God coming to earth. This God sent Jesus for all of us, and He has a plan for all of us.

Father, thank you for Jesus and Your plan for me from ancient times.

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