December 21st - They Escape to Egypt

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Passages: They Escape to Egypt


13 After they had gone, Joseph had another dream. An angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Get up now and flee to Egypt. Take Mary and the little child and stay there until I tell you to leave, for Herod intends to search for the child to kill him.” 14 So that very night he got up and took Jesus and his mother and made their escape to Egypt 15 and remained there until Herod died. All of this fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through his prophet: I summon my Son out of Egypt. 16 When Herod realized that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated. So, he sent soldiers with orders to slaughter every baby boy two years old and younger in Bethlehem and throughout the surrounding countryside, based on the time frame he was given from interrogating the wise men. 17 This fulfilled the words of the prophet Jeremiah: 18 I hear the screams of anguish, weeping, and wailing in Ramah. Rachel is weeping uncontrollably for her children. And she refuses to be comforted, because they are dead and gone (Matthew 2:13-18).

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son (Hosea 11:1)

15 This is what the Lord says: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more’ (Jeremiah 31:15).

Ponder:

Both Jesus and the nation of Israel came up out of Egypt. Just as the nation of Israel found redemption out of Egypt with the Exodus and Passover, we see in the same in the way God inaugurates the New Covenant, as Jesus, the Messiah comes out of Egypt.**

Given the size of the town of Bethlehem it is reckoned that approximately ten to thirty boys under the age of two were massacred. Herod had tried to kill the new-born king. Again, we see God’s sovereign protection of the infant Messiah. This was another ancient prophecy fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming.

21.11.05BC - 21.11.05BC Joseph's dream

21.11.05BC - 14.12.05 Journey to Egypt 

21.11.05BC Murder of the Innocents

Prayer:

Lord, thank you that your Spirit calls us to come out of the world, just as Jesus was called out of Egypt. Lead us by your Spirit we pray.

Lord, like Herod opposed your coming, many will oppose us because of our love for you. Protect us this day, we pray. Deliver us from evil. Amen.


Silent Night

(267) [Official Video] Silent Night (Live) - Pentatonix - YouTube



*(The Jesus Diary – The Most Comprehensive Chronology of the Life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God)

** Luke: The NIV Application commentary from Biblical Text to Contemporary Life: Darrell L. Brock – Quotations (moving forward) will be from this source and The Matthew Commentary Collection by Wilkins, Osborne and McKnight.


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