18 D E CE MB E R
OUT OF EGYPT Father in heaven, show me again how much it cost Jesus throughout His time on earth to make me His. Reignite my love, awe and thankfulness today. Amen
MAT T HEW 2 :1 3 -21 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’
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So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’
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When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
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‘A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.’
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After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.’
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So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.
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O
ne year when our family was travelling the long road to Grandma’s house, we arrived in town just as a tornado warning was issued. Suddenly everything changed as we ESCAPE TO EGYPT. feared that our children might be in danger. I mention that story to help us imagine MATTHEW 2:13 what it was like for Joseph’s family as he, Mary and their young Child travelled to Egypt. Herod, not a tornado, threatened them as he sought to kill their little Boy. Imagine how frightening it was for them, knowing that “Herod [sought] the child to kill him” (MATTHEW 2:13). We usually take a more idyllic view of Christmas—lowing cattle and kneeling shepherds in a peaceful scene. But there was no peace for Jesus’ family as they sought to escape Herod’s horror. Only when an angel told them it was safe did the family leave Egypt and go back home to Nazareth (VV. 20-23). Consider the awe we should feel for the incarnation. Jesus, who enjoyed the majesty of heaven in partnership with the Father, set it all aside to be born in poverty, to face many dangers and to be crucified for us. Coming out of Egypt is one thing, but leaving heaven for us—that’s the grand and amazing part of this story! o DAVE BRANON
TAKE THE CHILD AND HIS MOTHER AND
Read today’s passage again. Where do you see most clearly that, in becoming a man, Jesus is truly able “to feel sympathy for our weakness” (Hebrews 4:15)?
Lord Jesus, thank You for leaving heaven to save me. For every trial You endured, every bit of suffering inflicted upon You, You showed Your unbreakable love for me, a sinner. My life is Yours.
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