THE ESCAPE TO EGYPT
Matthew 2 : 13 – 18
After the Magi left back to their own lands, Joseph got a dream from an angel of the Lord.
Matthew 2 : 13
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
The angel warned him of the wrath of King Herod, and that Herod wanted to kill baby Jesus. So the angel asked Joseph to take his wife Mary and son Jesus, and flee to Egypt, where they will be safe until the Lord asked them to return again once the danger had passed.
As always, unquestioningly, Joseph took his wife and son by night, and fled to Egypt, just as the Lord had commanded him to do. They remained in Egypt until the death of Herod, fulfilling the prophecy of the Lord, that He had called His Son out of Egypt.
Herod was waiting for the return of the wise men who had inquired about Jesus, but they never returned. Infuriated by their treachery, he sent for all children in Bethlehem who were two years old or less, and killed them all – calculating the age of Jesus from the wise men’s words.
Matthew 2 : 18
“A voice was heard in Ramah,
wailing and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.
Matthew is quoting from Jeremiah 31 : 15, from a prophecy about the return of Israel from exile. Rachel, the mother, represents all Israel in her weeping, and the departure of Christ to Egypt is like the departure of Rachel’s sons, Joseph and Benjamin, to Egypt.
Hosea 11 : 1
When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
This verse can refer to both Israel’s deliverance from slavery, as well as Jesus’ family fleeing to Egypt during the reign of Herod. It shows God’s love for all His children here on earth.
When we see Joseph and Mary, we see obedience. How many of us are so obedient to our Father, that we accept His decisions for us unquestioningly? He might ask us to run – to move to a new place – and we grumble and moan about losing our daily lives we are so used to. But the Lord merely has much better plans for us – He is forever saving us from danger. He would not let our bones be broken, neither will He let our feet be dashed on stones. He wishes to protect us as He is our Father.
God loves us.
Christmas is a story of family – of love, respect and obedience.
The Bible for Slackers 