A DIFFERENT RETURN (MATTHEW 2:19-23)

The reflection “A Different Return” emphasizes God’s guidance and the importance of adapting to divine detours. Using Joseph’s story as an example, it illustrates that redirection can lead to unexpected fulfillment, aligning with God’s greater purposes. Trusting in God’s plan, even when it diverges from our expectations, is essential for spiritual growth.

Jean-Paul Agidi

Dec 29, 2025

3–4 minutes

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “A Different Return.” In our walk with God, we often anticipate a “return” to normalcy, to a previous season, or to a specific destination we had in mind. To “return” means to go back to a place or person, but when we add the word “different,” it implies a shift in plans—a divine detour. The key lesson of this reflection is that God’s guidance often redirects our paths to ensure our protection and the fulfilment of His greater purpose. Even when the way back doesn’t look like what we expected, God is navigating us toward our true calling.

Beloved in the Lord, in Matthew 2:19-23, we see Joseph in a state of transition. Herod had died, and the immediate threat to the child Jesus seemed to have passed. Naturally, Joseph likely intended to return to Judea, perhaps to Bethlehem, where the journey began. However, God intervened.

1. Protection through Redirection

Joseph was obedient, but he was also observant. He heard that Archelaus, a man just as cruel as his father, was reigning. God validated Joseph’s concern through a dream. Matthew 2:22 tells us that “having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee.” Often, we get frustrated when a door we expected to open stays shut, or when a “return” to a former job, relationship, or city is blocked. We must realise that what we perceive as a “Plan B” is often God’s “Plan A” for our safety. As it says in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

2. Fulfilment in the Unexpected

The “different return” led Joseph to a humble, obscure town called Nazareth. This wasn’t a mistake; it was a fulfilment of prophecy. Matthew 2:23 notes, “So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.” For the purpose of illustration, consider a GPS system. When there is a hidden accident or a road closure ahead that you cannot see, the GPS will announce “Recalculating.” You might be annoyed because the new route is longer or takes you through unfamiliar backroads. However, the GPS sees the “big picture” of the traffic flow. Similarly, God sees the “Archelaus” in our future—the hidden dangers we aren’t aware of—and recalculates our route to bring us to our “Nazareth,” the place where we can grow safely into our purpose.

Conclusion

A “different return” is not a failed journey. Joseph’s willingness to adapt his plans preserved the life of the Saviour. The main lesson for us today is that obedience to God requires flexibility and adaptability. When God closes the path to Judea and opens the path to Galilee, follow Him. Your “Nazareth”—that unexpected, quiet place—might just be the very place where God’s greatest promises for your life will be fulfilled. Summarily, Isaiah 55:8 reminds us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your watchful eye over my life. I confess that sometimes I am set on returning to “Judea”—to the things and places I find familiar—even when they are no longer safe or productive for me. Give me the discernment of Joseph to hear Your warnings and the courage to embrace a “different return.” Lead me to my “Nazareth,” the place of Your choosing, where I can grow and fulfil Your purpose. I trust Your navigation more than my own intuition. In Jesus’ name, Amen.