Sometimes when we think of prophecy, we think of major future events being predicted with minute detail.  In this week's Scripture from Matthew 2:13-15, we see an example of a prophecy being fulfilled that doesn't seem all that earth shattering.  After Joseph, Mary and Jesus had lived in Egypt as refugees for an unknown period of time, King Herod died and the family moved back to Israel.  Matthew writes this of the return:  And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”  Matthew 2:15b NLT

The prophecy doesn't even seem fully in context if you look up Hosea 11:1, the origin of the prophecy.  It seems to be a reference to Israel's time in slavery in Egypt as a nation, and that eventually God called His "son" (Israel) out of Egypt.  Yet, Matthew saw the parallel between the deliverance of the nation and the deliverance of Jesus.  What an interesting change of roles!  Jesus came to deliver all of us from sin and death, and yet because of Joseph's faithfulness Jesus was delivered first from the hands of King Herod, and then from exile in Egypt!  While Joseph's response to the angel's message seems dramatic--moving the family in the middle of the night--the overall process must have seemed mundane after a time:  living in Egypt, waiting for the time to be right to move back home.

Not all of our obedience to Jesus will be dramatic, either.  In fact, much of our obedience to Jesus will simply be waiting and doing the next right thing that comes to us.  It doesn't seem like that could fulfill prophecy, and maybe it won't, although it did in Jesus' life.  What it will do is provide light for those living in darkness, and give us the opportunity to do the big thing if and when it comes up!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, thank You for protecting Jesus and using even the ordinary events in His life to fulfill prophecy.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and empower us to do the next right thing small or big, day by day, and thus show others Your salvation.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.