The Dreamer

Joseph, human father of Jesus, is a dreamer (Matthew 1:20; 2:13, 19).  In each case, an angel appears in a dream to protect Jesus.  The first dream prevents Joseph from tucking Mary away, and the other two actually save Jesus’ life.

Joseph is a dreamer, like his namesake from Genesis.  Joseph son of Jacob dreamed in order to preserve life: “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance” (Genesis 45:7).  Joseph son of Jacob dreams to save Israel; Joseph the father of Jesus dreams to save the new Israel, Jesus his son, Jesus the Son of Yahweh.

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