Christmas in Egypt

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Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Jeff Lampl  

Christmas in Egypt

"When Israel was a child I loved him as a son and brought him out of Egypt."
 Hosea 11:1 (TLB)  

“an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up and flee to Egypt with the baby and his mother," the angel said, "and stay there until I tell you to return, for
King Herod is going to try to kill the child."  That same night he left for Egypt with Mary
and the baby,  and stayed there until King Herod’s death. This fulfilled the prophet’s prediction, "I have called my Son from Egypt." Matthew 2:13-15 (TLB)  

Going to Egypt was not unusual because there were colonies of Jews in several major Egyptian cities. These colonies had developed during the time of the great captivity.   Further the borders of Egypt extended eastward past the Sinai.

Matthew writes that Jesus was sent to and returned from Egypt so that the prophet's words, “Out of Egypt I called My Son”, might be fulfilled.  This is a reference to Hosea 11:1 where Hosea is actually writing about God's calling Israel out of Egypt.  

Matthew, as he contemplated his incredible life of experiencing all that Jesus was, looked back reflectively and through his sanctified mental “eyes” was able to see the profound parallel.

Israel was God's chosen "son" by adoption (Ex. 4:22), and Jesus is the Messiah, God's Son. In both cases the descent into Egypt was to escape danger, and the return was crucial in the history of Israel and eventually of the world.  

While Hosea was specifically referring to Israel's deliverance, Matthew saw the fuller deliverance of Israel (all believers through faith in Christ are included) through Jesus.   Matthew gives us the gift of seeing not just the words of scripture, but of God’s heart and plan behind those words.  

Enemies, danger, fear, deliverance, return.   The pattern is experienced by Jesus.   It’s the pattern of our lives as well.   Today would be a good day to reflect on how God has played that out in your life.   Wherever you are in the pattern, the final chapter, the final scene, the final ending is sure.   It’s return.   This is a story with a happy ending . .  . .  

 . . . . as is your story, regardless of how your story feels to you right now.

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