13When they had gone, an ange...

13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt,

- P84

19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt

20and 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." - P85

After the Magi depart, Joseph feceives a divine warning in a dream: Heroseeks to kill the child. In obedience, Joseph takes Mary and Jesus to Egypt,
where they remain until Herod‘s death. This mirrors Israel‘s story: rescuedin Egypt and later called out again by God. Herod‘s cruelty leads to themassacre of innocent children, but even in tragedy, God‘s sovereign planis not thwarted. Jesus was preserved because His mission was not yet complete.  - P86

Thispassage teaches us two vital truths: first, that we must be sensi-tive to the Holy Spirit‘s lead, even when it requires immediate and costlyobedience; second, no scheme of the enemy can derail God‘s purposes. Hiscanopy of protection ensures that His Word is fulfilled. - P86

After Herod‘s death, God directs Joseph to return to Israel. Yet, upon learn-ing that Herod‘s son rules in Judea, Joseph is again warned and guided tosettle in Nazareth. What seems like a practical adjustment is actually part ofGod‘s plan, fulfilling the prophecy that the Messiah would be called a Nazarene.  - P86

Our lives are not random; every twist and turn is woven into God‘sdivine tapestry. Even when the path looks uncertain, or circumstances forceunexpected changes, God is still in charge of our destiny.  - P86

What may appearas detours are often the very roads that align us with His promises. Therefore, we can walk in confidence, knowing that God is faithfully guidingeach step toward the fulfillment of His purposes. - P86

"For all the days ordained for me, the Lord will unfailingly give me what is best, untilhe brings me safely home."- Vaneetha Rendall Risner - P86

Sovereign God, thank You that Your purposes cannot be thwarted. Help me to walk in obedience to Your Spirit’s lead, even when You call me into unknown places. Protect me from fear and remind me daily that I live under Your covering. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P87

The Lord knew that Herod would intend to kill Jesus, and because of that,
Mary, Joseph, and Jesus would have to flee to Egypt to escape the king‘smurderous intentions. Following Herod‘s death, the Lord also knew thatMary, Joseph, and Jesus would return to Galilee and end up in Nazareth.
Herod‘s intentions could not and did not defeat God‘s authority, despiteHerod‘s best efforts. The same is true when it comes to our own intentionsand the intentions of others.
- P87

When we make decisions, we make them based on intentions we havein our hearts. Those intentions can be aligned with either the Lord‘s will,
our own will, or the will of others. However, when those of us who followGod make our decisions based on something that does not align with theLord‘s will, or others make decisions that affect us yet are not aligned withthe Lord‘s will, God still has the final say on what will occur.  - P87

Anything thatHe does not allow to happen will not happen. Herod intended to kill Jesusbut failed to do so because the Lord did not allow it. For those of us whofollow the Lord, this should come as a comfort because we have a God whois in power over everything and has authority over all.  - P87

Therefore, in everycircumstance, we need not worry. He is there with us, He knows what willhappen, and He knows what we need to face what He allows. - P87

1After Jesus was born in Beth...

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem

2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."

3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

- P80

9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.

10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
- P81

King Herod responds to the news of Jesus’ birth with fear and insecurity rather than joy. Instead of recognizing the arrival of the promised Messiah, he sees the child as a rival to his throne. His desire is not to worship but to destroy. This is a picture of how the human heart resists God’s purposes when driven by pride, fear, or self-centeredness. - P82

While Herod represents hostility to God’s plan, the Magi, who also seek the child, come with hearts ready to worship. The same truth holds for us: When we walk in the flesh, we risk opposing God’s work and missing the blessings of God’s grace. But when we surrender to Him in humility, we find joy in Christ and participate in the work of the Holy Spirit. - P82

The visit of the Magi is a beautiful picture of the wideness of God‘s grace.
These men were foreigners and outsiders to Israel‘s covenant story, yet Godused a star to guide them to the promised Messiah. They came, boweddown, and worshiped Jesus as King, presenting gifts that acknowledgedHis royal and divine identity. In sharp contrast to Herod‘s hostility, theMagi demonstrate humility and joy in their encounter with Christ.  - P82

Theirobedience to God‘s warning shows that God both draws people to Himselfand protects His purposes. God‘s grace transcends boundaries of ethnicityand culture. Anyone anywhere can come to Jesus. We only need to havehearts that welcome and acknowledge His kingship. - P82

Lord, keep my heart from pride and fear that blind me to Your purposes and tempt me to resist You. Help me to walk in humility, acknowledging Your kingship so I may be ever ready to celebrate the work of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P83

[오늘의 한문장] 새벽나라 SENA 2026.1 (영문판)

Joseph is a man of integrity caught in a confusingsituation. As a devout Jew, he desires to uphold theLaw, yet he also loves Mary and does not want toshame her publicly. His decision to divorce her qui-etly shows both compassion and righteousness. Godintervenes and reveals the truth about Mary‘s childand the role Joseph is to play in God‘s redemptiveplan. - P43

The angel gives two names for Mary‘s child:Jesus, meaning "the Lord saves" and Immanuel, "Godwith us." These names reveal the depth of God‘s loveand the completeness of His plan.  - P43

Jesus is the Saviorwho rescues humanity from sin and death. He is alsoImmanuel, the God who walks with His people intheir struggles, joys, and everyday lives. - P43

18This is how the birth of Je...

18This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.

19Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
- P75

22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

23"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").

- P77

Joseph is a man of integrity caught in a painful, confusing situation. As a devout Jew, he desires to uphold the Law, yet he also loves Mary and does not want to shame her publicly. His decision to divorce her quietly shows both compassion and righteousness. But in this very moment of struggle, God intervenes and reveals the truth about Mary’s child and the role Joseph is to play in God’s redemptive plan. - P78

Like Joseph, God invites us to embrace a role in His plan that is far greater than we can imagine. In seasons of uncertainty, when we cannot see the full picture, He calls us to trust Him and continue to obey His words. He will reveal what we need to know at the right time. - P78

Lord, when things are uncertain and I don’t fully understand my circumstances, give me the courage to act in integrity and faith. Teach me to trust Your purposes above my own plans, and to obey when You call me into something greater than myself. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P79

Mary is pledged to Joseph but is found pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph plans to divorce her quietly, but an angel tells him in a dream to takeMary as his wife because her child is from the Holy Spirit. Joseph obeys andtakes Mary as his wife but refrains from union with her until she gives birth.
He names the child Jesus. - P77

This is the genealogy of Jesu...

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:

2Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,

- P70

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,

6and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

- P71

11and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

12After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

- P72

16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

17Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

- P73

Encapsulated in the statement that Jesus Christ is "the son of David, the son of Abraham," is the summary of God’s promise throughout the Old Testament. It was promised to Abraham that through his seed all the nations would be blessed, and more about this promise was revealed when it was told of David that his house and kingship would endure forever. - P74

At the right time, Jesus came as the fulfillment of the Old Testament. The promises of God are sure in coming, but as this genealogy shows, they are not always quick in coming. However, time spent waiting for them is never wasted. - P74

Think of the stories of grace each name in this genealogy represents, and be encouraged that your waiting on God is covered by His grace. - P74

Jesus‘ genealogy goes right through one of the darkest times in Israel‘s history, the Babylonian exile. This period saw the collapse of the monarchyand the decimation of the temple. And although a fallen monarchy seemslike a less than favorable context for the coming of a king, the successionof names continues because God‘s promises cannot be thwarted by man‘sfailures. The beauty of God‘s promise is that He guarantees it on the basisof His word.  - P74

Human beings may break their word, but God cannot. Hishonor would not allow it. He is faithful to all that He says. This is why thegenealogy finds its end with Jesus. This is also why the lives of the saints willfind their fulfillment in Him. - P74

Father, I am again reminded that You work all things for the good of those who love You. And this work is dependent not on my faithfulness, but on Yours. Thank You for being faithful and true till the end. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. - P75