A long time ago, a writer who I cannot remember now drew an analogy between driving
and divine guidance. He reasoned that God’s guidance is like driving your car at night.
Your headlamps can only see a short distance, perhaps 30-50 meters at once. As you
drive with 50-meter visibility, you see another 50 and another 50 until you get to your
destination. No vehicle is equipped with such a light that can see from the beginning to
the end at one single stretch. It is a little at a time. The same is true with God’s guidance
– it comes a little at a time.
“It is characteristic of God to indicate a new direction with a new word.”
This truth is well illustrated in our text. Prior to this time, Joseph was instructed to take
Mary and Jesus to the land of Egypt. There was no specific instruction as to when they
would return. Joseph also did not encumber himself with that detail. When Herod died,
heaven saw that the coast was clear. Joseph was told to return. When it comes to
guidance, we will sometime have to live one day at a time. Too much information can be
discouraging; so God gives only as much as we are able to contain at the moment. In
case you are puzzled that you are not hearing any new direction from God, it is
unnecessary. When Joseph was instructed to go to the land of Egypt, the instruction
was that he should be there until God brings him a word. So, I say to people to keep
doing the last thing God told them until He sends another word. It is characteristic of
God to indicate a new direction with a new word. If you do not have a new word yet,
keep busy with the last thing God told you.