Matthew 4:12-13 (ESV)
Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into
Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the
territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,
Why Zebulun and Naphtali? They are about as far from Jerusalem as he could
get. Jerusalem is about 72 miles west of the top end of the Dead Sea. Nazareth about
90 miles north of Jerusalem. But Samaria was between Jerusalem and Nazareth,
making the trek even farther for the Jews who would travel around Samaria
rather than taking the direct route through it. From there Jesus moved even
further north to Zebulun and Naphtali. Naphtali was the northernmost area of
Israel, so why travel so far from the center of everything?
There seem to be two clear reasons, but a likely third as well. First, it
was safer away from Jerusalem. Herod had arrested John and eventually had him
decapitated. If Jesus was associated with John then his life may have been at
risk too, short-circuiting the Jesus’ plan. Second, it fulfilled Scripture.
Verses 15 and 16 are quotes from Isaiah that are fulfilled by Jesus’ travel to
Zebulun and Naphtali. Perhaps a third reason is that around Galilee is where
Jesus would call his fishermen disciples. Jesus had a plan and was working it
even when no one could see it.
I tell people that I have never yet ended up where I thought I was going,
but each step of our journey was a part of God’s process of ministering to us
and through us. Through us he ministers to others. In us he faithfully molds
and transforms us. We can’t see the plan. Truthfully, if we had seen the plan I’m
not sure we would have been up to it. But God . . . . But God is faithfully
working his plan. We just need to listen, follow, and trust.
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