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THE SON CALLED OUT OF EGYPT
MONDAY, APRIL 14
Matthew 2:13-23

Psalm 91

 

“…Out of Egypt

have I called my son.”

 

THE SON CALLED OUT OF EGYPT
 
Herod the Great wanted to kill the infant King. Joseph was instructed by the Lord’s angel to take little Jesus and Mary to Egypt for safety. It is rather paradoxical that Jesus should flee to Egypt — the place from which God through Moses led His people out. God rescued His people out of Egypt — a land of bondage and slavery, into Israel — the promised land of milk and honey. The land of Israel should be the safest place for the infant Messiah — the land He Himself had given to His people; yet it had become a land most dangerous, and now Egypt a country most safe! It is no wonder John indicted His fellow countrymen in John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”
 
Did Jesus come at the right time? Indeed, He did. The Apostle Paul said that He came in “the fulness of the time” (Gal 4:4). He came at a time when the Israelites and the world needed Him most; a time when the unbelief of Israel and the wickedness of the world were at their height: “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not” (John 1:10). “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). The advent of Christ at such an evil time underscores the grace and mercy of God. Is there a king that would seek such a humbling and humiliating entrance? We can be quite sure there is none but Jesus.
 
Jesus’ sojourn in Egypt fulfilled Hosea’s prophecy (Hosea 11:1-3). Israel, a nation beloved of God, is a type of Christ. Just as God had saved Israel by calling her out of Egypt, so God will save His Church through His beloved Son whom He calls out of Egypt.
 
Herod died in 4 BC. His crime against Christ no doubt called for God’s swift judgment. He died of a terrible disease. Archelaus, Herod’s worst son, took his father’s place (cf. Matt 2:22). The new Herod was equally evil, and Judaea was still not safe for young child Jesus. The Lord’s angel thus led Joseph to Galilee. Jesus grew up in Nazareth in fulfilment of prophecy (Isa 11:1; Jer 23:5, 33:15; Zech 6:12).
 
THOUGHT: God is our best Protector.

PRAYER: Father, send Thy angels to keep me from all harm and danger.

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