Matthew records the harrowing journey of the holy family with sparing detail.
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.
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod.
This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, Out of Egypt I have called my Son” (Matthew 2:12-15).
The lived experience of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus was likely far more dramatic and dangerous than Matthew’s brief account suggests. Joseph obeyed the angel’s message and immediately fled Bethlehem, even leaving in the middle of the night.
The shortest distance from Bethlehem to Egypt was about 150 miles. We can only hope they had a donkey to help carry their belongings on their trip to safety.
Once in Egypt, they settled near other Jewish refugees. According to the historian Josephus, there were enough Jewish exiles in Egypt to establish a substitute for the Jerusalem Temple.
The holy family lived in Egypt until Herod died and it was safe to return home.
What’s In It for Me?
I learned while taking sales courses in college that we always have to answer a basic question: “What’s in it for me?” Besides some geographical information about Jesus’ childhood, what is the practical application for us?
Here are a few thoughts:
1. Urgent Obedience: Joseph didn’t wait for morning or a more convenient time to get his small family on the move and away from danger.
When the Holy Spirit prompts us to action, we should respond immediately. There have been times when I obeyed the whisper of the Holy Spirit and discovered it was exactly the right thing to do.
I have also resisted the Holy Spirit and put off His leadership for a more convenient time, much to my regret. I remember missed opportunities that were lost forever because I did not give urgent obedience to the Spirit’s direction.
Friends in AA often speak of “doing the next right thing.” I have amended their excellent slogan and applied it to my own life: I want to do the next right thing, led by the Holy Spirit.
2. Valuable Sacrifice: I doubt any of us have begun a 150-mile hike with little to no preparation in the middle of the night. Even if we suppose they had a donkey to carry their belongings, they still would have been required to walk while carrying baby Jesus.
From the cradle to the cross, Mary’s life was one of sacrifice for her Son. This dangerous journey to Egypt was just one of many times she put aside personal desires in favor of serving Him.
We can only imagine how Mary felt when she saw her Son hanging on the cross. Loving mothers who have seen their children violently harmed can begin to understand her pain. It is equally beyond our understanding to fully appreciate Mary’s joy at the resurrection.
The life of discipleship is one of sacrifice. As Jesus said:
“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it” (Mark 8:35).
Self-denial and cross-bearing are not pleasurable experiences. However, they are not without reward. Jesus tells us that if we lose our lives, we will save them. What an understatement that truth is!
3. A New Community: The Old Testament imagery in Matthew’s Gospel highlights how Jesus is the founder of a new community of God’s people. Jesus is both the God-sent Deliverer and God’s Son, representing Israel.
We are given the incredible opportunity to be participants in His kingdom. As Jesus said:
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15).
Given that we can join God in His rule, we are called to change our minds (repent) and trust this as good news.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 