Matthew 2:13-15, The Flight Into Egypt

Text

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, 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.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Comments

In yet another divine dream of intervention, God had Joseph take Jesus outside of Herod’s jurisdiction and into Egypt, the place where God’s history with Israel began. In Egypt, God kept his Son safe as he had Israel in the time of Joseph, son of Jacob. He called Israel out in the time of Moses to fulfill their role as his people, and now he calls his Son out to fulfill his role as both the people of God (the True Israel) and the redeemer of God’s people.

Application/Reflection

Matthew records five dreams in chapters 1 and 2. God spoke to Joseph in four of these dreams. Have you ever experienced God speaking to you in a dream? In Acts 2, Peter quotes the prophet Joel, saying that in the last days—the days we are living in—God will pour out his Spirit on all people and that they will dream dreams. Speak to God about speaking to you in dreams.

Prayer

O God, who from the family of your servant David raised up Joseph to be the guardian of your incarnate Son and the spouse of his virgin mother: Give us grace to imitate his uprightness of life and his obedience to your commands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(BCP, p. 239)