Joseph Moved the Family Three Times: Fear, Guidance and Uprooting a Household

We usually think of Joseph, the husband of Mary, in a single scene: kneeling at the manger, a quiet figure at the edge of the nativity. But if you read the first two chapters of Matthew with a householder’s eye, Joseph is a man who keeps having to move his family, at short notice, on the strength of a dream.

First he has to decide whether to go ahead with a marriage that has not turned out the way he planned. Then, after the birth in Bethlehem, he is warned to take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, a foreign country, by night (Matthew 2:13-14). Later he is told it is safe to go back, so he packs up again (verses 19-21). And then, hearing who is ruling in Judea, he is afraid to settle there and is guided instead to Nazareth in Galilee (verses 22-23).

Three moves, maybe more, in a few short years. With a young wife and a small child. Without a moving van.

“Do not be afraid”

The first time God speaks to Joseph, it is to address his fear directly:

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” (Matthew 1:20, NIV)

Joseph’s fear made sense. His plans had been upended. People would talk. He had been trying to do the right thing quietly, and now he was being asked to step into something much bigger and more exposed. The angel does not tell him his situation is simple. It tells him that God is in it.

That word, “do not be afraid”, sits over everything that follows. It does not mean nothing frightening will happen. Within a short time Joseph will be running from a murderous king. It means that fear will not be the one making the decisions.

The fear of moving

Moving house is known as one of life’s most stressful events, and it is easy to see why. It touches everything: money, work, school, church, friendships, the sense of where you belong. For many families it is not a choice. Rent goes up and the landlord will not renew. A job ends and another is found in a different town. A marriage breaks down and the house has to be sold. Violence in the community makes staying unsafe. Storms or floods take the house outright.

Others move by choice but still face fear: emigrating for a better future, returning home after decades abroad, relocating to care for a parent. The questions are the same. Will we be all right? Will the children cope? Are we making a mistake?

What Joseph actually did

It is striking how little Joseph says in the Gospels. Not a single word of his is recorded. What we have instead are his actions, and they follow a pattern.

• He listened. Each move began with guidance, not panic. For most of us, guidance will not come in a dream, but it may come through prayer, Scripture, wise counsel and circumstances.
• He acted promptly. “He got up, took the child and his mother during the night.” Once the way was clear, he did not delay.
• He kept the family together. Every move is described in the same words: the child and his mother. His concern was their safety and unity, not his own reputation.
• He used good sense. When he heard who was ruling Judea, he was afraid, and that fear was wise. He went elsewhere. Faith did not make him careless.
• He worked. In Nazareth, Joseph was known as a builder or carpenter (Matthew 13:55). He settled, earned a living and made a home.

For a household on the move

If your family is facing a move you did not plan, or one you are not sure about, a few thoughts from Joseph’s story:

• Bring the fear to God honestly. He addressed Joseph’s fear by name; he can address yours.
• Seek guidance before making the big decisions, and look for peace as well as logic.
• Talk with the children. They may be more frightened than they show, and they need to know the family will stay together.
• Get practical help: a trusted adviser about tenancy rights or selling, a church community in the new place, friends to help with packing.
• Remember that Egypt was not the end of the story. Temporary places can be places of safety and even blessing on the way to somewhere else.

For reflection

• Is your household facing a move, chosen or forced, that frightens you?
• What might it look like to let God’s “do not be afraid” sit over that decision, while still using good sense?

A prayer: Lord, you guided Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, to Egypt and home again. You know where our family is, and where we may need to go. Take away the fear that would make our decisions for us. Give us clear guidance, courage to act, and a home, wherever it may be, where you are with us. Amen.

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