The Return to Nazareth: STEP Program Application
Matthew 2:19-23 (NIV): "After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 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.' So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 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, 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."
Bible Study Approach: No Rush
Hurrying through Matthew 2:19-23 can shrink this pivotal return into a brief footnote, missing its depth. The negatives are clear: mental overload from tracking Herod’s death, angelic dreams, and geographic shifts; shallow engagement glossing over God’s guidance; and spiritual disconnection as we rush past Jesus’ humble roots. Slow down to absorb the significance of this homecoming—God’s plan unfolding through obedience. This isn’t about speed; it’s about what resonates with you.
Small Segments
Example: These verses narrate Joseph’s return from Egypt, guided by dreams, culminating in Nazareth’s prophetic role.
Method: Break it into focus points:
Verses 19-20: The angel’s command post-Herod signals safety, showing God’s timing.
Verse 21-22: Joseph’s obedience and fear of Archelaus reveal trust tempered by caution.
Verse 23: Settling in Nazareth fulfills prophecy, marking Jesus’ lowly origins.
Slow Reading
Technique: Read each segment slowly, contemplating the implications. “Get up, take the child and his mother and go”—what does this reveal about God’s direction? Ponder Joseph’s reliance on dreams amid uncertainty.
Mental Imagery: Visualize Joseph waking to the angel’s voice, the journey from Egypt, or the quiet arrival in Nazareth—a town of no repute hosting the Savior.
Meditation: Focused Meditation
Verse Repetition: Meditate on “he would be called a Nazarene.” Consider Jesus’ humility in your life, God’s plan in the ordinary.
Process: In a quiet place, repeat this phrase, letting the idea of humility—simplicity, purpose, presence—resonate within you.
Scene Visualization
Imagination: Picture the scene: Joseph, Mary, and Jesus trekking from Egypt, pausing at Judea’s threat, settling in Nazareth’s obscurity. See God’s hand in every step.
Application: Put yourself in that moment. How does God’s guidance change everything? Reflect on how His direction pierces your plans, leading you to unexpected places of growth.
Prayer: Application to Life
Lesson Activation: Pray for God’s guidance, as in Matthew 2:19-23, to direct your path, trusting His timing and purpose.
Confession and Request:
Struggles: Confess areas where you’ve resisted His lead—stubbornness, doubt, or impatience.
Past Mistakes: Reflect on times you’ve ignored His nudges or sought grander paths, asking forgiveness and openness.
Future Guidance: Seek faith to follow humbly, even to “Nazareths” in your life—places of quiet obedience.
Bold Requests:
Testing Faith: Ask for chances to trust boldly—embracing humble callings, following His voice in uncertainty, sharing His guidance with others.
The Pitfalls of Overloading vs. the Power of STEP
Reading Matthew 2:19-23 all at once floods us with transitions—Egypt to Israel, Judea to Galilee—risking exhaustion and indifference, missing God’s care. We skim Joseph’s obedience or Nazareth’s prophecy, leaving us disconnected or proud of finishing. But STEP transforms it. Small segments yield deep insight—God’s precise leading. Meditation embeds humility, and prayer fosters intimacy, turning a return into a personal journey. Through this method, Matthew 2:19-23 becomes not just a travel log but a lesson in God’s faithful direction, drawing us closer to Him.
