Advent Discovery Walk – Week 4

Matthew 2: 13-14
When they (Magi) had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,

Luke 2: 22-24
When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

Leviticus 12:8
But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.

Although the scriptures do not specify how the gold, frankincense and myrrh were used, it is interesting to note that these items were provided to Jesus and His family right before they moved in the middle of the night to Egypt.  In Luke it is revealed that Mary and Joseph were too poor to offer anything more than doves at the Temple for Jesus their firstborn.  To move to Egypt for any length of time would have required some resources!  In fact, they moved in the middle of the night, so they didn't even have time to ask family members for help either.  Yet they had valuable spices and gold with them when they ventured forth.  How comforting to see that when God asks us to move, He provides a way for us to do it.

Are there ways the Lord has provided for you and sustained you during a season of your past - a previous journey?  Were there tangible supplies?  Other means such as newly acquired skills, a mentor, or perhaps encouragement from other brothers and sister in Christ?

This week offers Part 1 of 2 of Filling Up Your Pack from the Traveler's Pack. This section will guide you in thinking of ways you might be supplied for your new calling as well as what has given you, and might continue to give you, sustenance along the way. (download here)

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for the ways you've sustained us when you call us to step out in faith in a new direction.  Help us to remember those ways so we might be strengthened for this journey that lies before us.  And may we trust you even when we don't recognize the ways you're providing for us, even now.  In Jesus' Name - Amen.