A King Hunted

This week’s passage: Matthew 2:13-23

The Angel Gives Warning

The wise men are warned in a dream not to return to Herod (this is Herod the Great) with the news of where they found Christ in Bethlehem, so they went home a different route then they came. Now we see an angel coming to Joseph in a dream (he should be getting used to this by now) warning him that Herod was putting together a search party to find and destroy Jesus. True to form, Joseph doesn’t doubt this information and immediately gets up and departs for Egypt with his family. The family stays in Egypt until the death of Herod.

“And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matthew 2:14-15 ESV)

Remember the gifts presented to Jesus by the Magi? What a perfectly timed provision by God so that Mary and Joseph could afford to relocate. This allows them to be safely out of the way when Herod, based on the timeline he learned from the wise men on when they first saw the star, orders all the male children in Bethlehem two years old or younger to be killed.

“Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”” (Matthew 2:17-18 ESV)

Out of Egypt – to Nazareth

Sometime later, after the death of Herod we see yet another visit by an angel to Joseph in a dream. This time Joseph learns that King Herod is dead, and he is to return with his family to Israel. Joseph again responds quickly and begins the journey back to Israel, even though he is afraid of Herod’s son who is now reigning over Judea. He then receives another angelic visit and is sent to a city called Nazareth in the district of Galilee. Clearly this was God’s plan for His Son all along as Matthew shares.

“And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:23 ESV)

Have you noticed a pattern from Matthew? We’ve seen Him explain something being fulfilled as the “Lord had spoken”, “spoken by the prophet”, or “so it was written” several times already, quoting scripture from the Old Testament to prove his account. Matthew is trying to reach the Jewish people with the gospel, seeing that they had completely missed the Messiah. Many today believe that Jesus is only found in the New Testament, or that the Old Testament no longer applies, but that is simply not the case. God’s plan always included Jesus living among us as a man so that He might redeem us. Old Testament scripture lays out the plan so that no one is surprised or confused about Him being here. The more I study God’s Word, the more I am amazed about how we can see the past, present, and future as God intends it to be. The Bible provides examples of how people lived then, so that we can learn how we are to live now and look forward to how we will live in eternity with our loving Creator!

Are you trusting God today? The awesome thing is, we don’t have to wait for an angel to visit in a dream to learn God’s will. When Christ died on the cross and went to sit at the right hand of the Father, he sent the Holy Spirt to help us, and the Helper is with us always.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV)

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7 ESV)

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PS – this coming Sunday (April 1) begins Passion Week. The Blue Letter Bible has many resources for you to remember and study the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Use this or your favorite resource each day this week to remind yourself of the great sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/he_is_risen/index.cfm