As you read Matthew 2 and Luke 2, you’re struck by the quick return to “normalcy” and the fact that Divine activity is largely absent or at least hidden from view for significant periods of time. God’s hand was, without a doubt, on everything that transpired. However, in their daily lives, Mary and Joseph seem to have been just doing what they needed to do to deal with life’s challenges and to be obedient to God’s direction so far as they understood it. To the casual observer, they were just like any other first-time parents, learning to adjust to parenthood and dealing with the demands of everyday life. Yet, they were grappling with the realities involved in nurturing the life God had entrusted to them!
