Can God Speak Through Angels and Dreams? Check out Mary and Joseph in Matthew 2:19-23

The Return to Nazareth

19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 

Herod's death, as we learn from the 1st century Jewish historian, Josephus, came quickly about 4 months after his treacherous acts.  

He died eaten with worms, at the age of seventy-one, after a reign of forty years, having endured such excruciating, lingering, and loathsome diseases, as rendered him intolerable to himself and others also. And his innate cruelty being thus exasperated, he became more barbarous than ever, and just before his death caused Antipater, his son and the heir apparent of his kingdom, to be executed on some groundless suspicion. (Benson)

Needless to say no one was sad.  It was probably the same angel appeared to Joseph again.

20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” 

Once again the angel commands Joseph to get up and go back to his homeland.  "Those" (plural) who were trying to take the child's life, could mean Herod and his son Antipater, or others who conspired with him.  Again Mary is referred to as Jesus' mother.  

21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 

Once again we see Joseph's unwavering obedience to God's Word through the angel.  Though some people get so caught up in angels, they over emphasize them, other dismiss them altogether.  But it is clear angels are God's messengers and there is no evidence given that they are not still active today. If nothing else, they protect us in ways we will never know until we are in heaven in the angelic realm.  Since we know our battle is not against flesh and blood but spiritual powers, we must assume that just as there are demons working against us, angels are working for us.   

22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 

If you think Archelaus was more mellow than his father, consider this, 

The character of Archelaus was as cruel and treacherous as that of his father, and within a few months after his accession, he sent in his horsemen to disperse a multitude, and slew not less than 3,000 men. The temper of Antipas on the other hand was as yet looked on as milder. This, and possibly his absence from Galilee on a visit to Rome, may well have led Joseph to turn to that region as offering a prospect of greater safety. (Elliot)

God protected Joseph, Mary and our Savior again this time by warning them in a dream.  Again God uses many ways to communicate with us.  Of course, we must test any message we think is from God against the scritpures and also it is wise to consult  trusted brother or sister in Christ, before we assume it is a word from God.  

Though Joseph might have thought he would return to Jesus' birthplace in Bethlehem, God had other plans.  Galilee was a poplulous town with a good deal of Gentiles mixed in with Jews.  

The parts of Galilee - The country of Galilee. At this time the land of Palestine was divided into three parts: Galilee, on the north; Samaria, in the middle; and Judea, on the south. Galilee was under the government of Herod Antipas, who was comparatively a mild prince, and in his dominions Joseph might find safety. - Barnes

23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene. 

Nazareth was the hometown of Mary and Joseph, so it is not a coincidence that this is where Jesus grows up.  

Nazareth was an unwalled, unprotected town with a somewhat bad reputation; Nathaniel wondered if anything good could come from Nazareth (John 1:46). In God’s plan, Jesus came from a small, insignificant place that, if it had any reputation, it was a bad one. This is where Jesus grew up and matured into adulthood. Guzik

One item of interest is that Matthew quotes a prophet saying, "So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene". is not found anywhere listed in the Old Testament.  Some speculate it is listed in other writings, but not included in the canon of scripture, which was not present at the time Matthew wrote.  Since this is the only quote from a prophet Matthew uses that is not in the Old Testament, there is no reason to think Matthew is in error.  

Once again today we see that Jesus not only had a miraculous birth, but that God's hand of protection was on him wherever he went, as well with his parents.  Joseph is the focus of the story again today, as his obedience to the angel in his dream protect Mary and his newborn son.  

I would love to be privvy to some of the conversations Mary and Joseph had prior to these decisions.  Since Mary exhibited so much faith in the birth of Jesus, it is doubtless she was in sync and walking in faith as well.

How do you respond when you think you have heard from God?  How often do you act on something you think God is asking you to do?  Maybe it is not picking up and moving to another place, but God often calls us to take small steps of faith in both big and small decisions in our daily lives.  Let's pray that we might have as much faith as Mary and Joseph as we seek to be obedient to Him.