Matthew
2:13-23 NIV
13 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.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his
mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 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.”[a]
16 When Herod realized 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:
18 “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.”[b]
19 After Herod died, an
angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 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.”
21 So he got up, took the child and his
mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when
he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he
was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the
district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a
town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the
prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Dream and Ponder and Listen
Egypt
was a place to run to for escape from the terrors of government failures and
greed of power and might. Egypt was in Joseph’s time and the time of the
Israelites a place of escape for safety. At least until it wasn’t.
Fleeing
to Egypt from Bethlehem, after receiving the gifts from the Magi, seems to make
some sense. If Mary, Joseph and Jesus had returned to Nazareth, then fleeing to
Syria would make more sense. Syria would be the closer place to flee to. But
fleeing from Bethlehem to Egypt would be closer in this case. Plus, why risk
returning to Nazareth, right through the very country side where Herod may be
able to find and capture this young couple and the Savior Jesus?
Even
though, in the Israelite past, Egypt was a place of bondage; God shows that
even some of the most fearful places on earth can be of use, through the power
of God, for refuge. We all have made moves in life that may have been guided by
God’s divine grace. So, once again, here, Joseph in a dream is told by an angel
of God to take action. Ponder a bit but act decisively and quickly as God
directs.
Egypt
was just beyond the realm of power that was ruled by Herod. So, Joseph moves
on.
Does
this move seem risky? Sure! How would Joseph sustain his family? Not sure! But
in and through the faith that God gives Joseph, he moves his young family as
God directs. Think about that. Think about the moves needed in life that all
depend on the gift of faith and trust in God. Listen to Him!
In this
fearful move away from the power of man to dispense death, even on infants, the
crucifixion of Jesus begins. How evil can man be to kill the helpless, those
running for their life, all in the fear of power and prestige being taken away
from powerful men. Even when the power of man is only an idea of self. Real
power belongs to God. Real power and strength are not always with the rich and
kingly rulers of earth.
Joseph
immediately obeys the command of God heard through an angel in a dream. Talk
about some trust! Immediately! A dream, a sleep, a time to ponder while
sleeping and bang! Get up and go! From the gifts and visit from Magi, to
fleeing to Egypt. Just like that. How things can change. How things change in
my life and yours. In an instant life can change. In those instances of life,
trust that God is with you. God came to this earth in Jesus to walk with you,
in all those instances of life when things change quickly. Trust in God. Trust
in Jesus. God IS with you.
Was it
two years, or maybe four years, perhaps a few months, that Joseph kept his
little family in Egypt? It was long enough for God’s plan of salvation to
unfold for all mankind. Was this a small Exodus experience of Jesus and His
mother and father? Or maybe this was like a mini exile for the family into
Babylon of sorts. Not sure, but I do know that God calls us out of exile and
gives us a place with Him in His Kingdom forever, as we wait and believe and
live our life in exile, in exodus, in the wilderness and in the homecoming into
the arms of Jesus at the conclusion of this earthly journey. Listen to God’s
call and move when God calls.
Jesus
will put away evil, sin, and death, and lead us back to be with Him in eternity.
This is just the beginning of the beginning. The end of the end. Listen to
God’s call and wait for Him, in all the faith that He gives to you.
Like the
death of Herod, Jesus will bring death to all evil and sin in this world. Death
to grant everlasting life!
Herod
was a mean, cruel and sick man. Sick as in illness and sick as in evil. Even
his own family were those he took out his fury upon. So, when the Magi didn’t
do exactly as he expected them to do in reporting the whereabouts of this
Messiah, Herod lashed out with some evil commands. Mankind is cruel at times.
Especially when power is in question, or wealth, or pride. Rulers throughout
time lash out at their own family, their own people, and the world. Evil is
evil, and evil here lashes out towards a young Jesus. Herod was mocked and felt
deceived, so what did he do? He lashed out at people who could not defend
themselves, declaring that infants and young children were to be killed. It’s
awful to begin with, but when men lash out at those who have no defense, it is
appalling. What vile, despicable things will men do to save pride? It’s
disgusting!
But as
we see in prophecy, this crying and death is nothing new to this world. It’s
been present for many years and will be for many more. So, what does God do? He
saves a Savior, and that Savior saves the world from sin, death, and evil men.
A Savior that brings forth life, even as that Savior, in Jesus, is under the
threat of death, as a young child too. Yes, this young child, Jesus, will go
through His own kind of exile, similar to the exile of the Israelites to
Babylon. A time of waiting it out. A time of testing and faith. A time for
those loyal believers to endure. But God will draw the Israelites back to Jerusalem,
and God will draw you and I out of our own exiles as we wait in faith and hope.
Jesus WILL return. Jesus will return from Egypt and will return again, to draw
us back to Him.
Herod
died full of worms. He was a sick man in more ways than one. He died at the age
of 71 and endured much pain in death. Not only was Herod a terror to the world,
he was a terror to himself. Is this justice? Maybe. But through this moment in
history, God speaks once again to Joseph through an angel in a dream. God
guides Joseph, step by step, and Joseph is faithful to God in every step. Maybe
this is a lesson to us as well, to listen to the Words of God. Words of God
freely given to us in the Bible, through the Sacraments and from the pulpit.
Pay attention folks! God may just lead and guide you through the ups and downs of
life. Anyway, Joseph takes his little family and his Savior to Nazareth to live
and grow.
Yet the
journey to Nazareth was a bit of a detour. Herod’s most evil son was now ruler
of the land. So, instead of going to Judea, Joseph detours to Galilee and the
city of Nazareth. And there a new ministry begins, a new creation starts, a
Savior leads His people forth to forgiveness and salvation. The journey won’t
be easy. Evil is all around, but this small child will lead the world to
something unheard of, something so opposite the pride, power, prestige and
wealth of this world’s rulers. A child will lead all those who believe to a new
Kingdom, an eternal Kingdom, and an invasion of the hearts of mankind who
joyfully choose to follow Jesus.
So,
what’s the message I hear to me? I hear and see a God that leads and guides His
people through all the stages of life. In my birth, God gave me the breath to
live. In my birth God gave me life straight out of the womb of my mother. This
is not always the case for newborns. Some newborns fall into the hands of Jesus
right from the start. God takes care of them in love and grace. Yet, to all who
wander on this earth, there is other gifts available. As my parents brought me
to the baptismal font, God buried me in death in the water of baptism and
raised me to new life in and with Him in eternity. Similar to Jesus at the
Jordan, the Holy Spirit descended upon me and God claimed me as His very own.
For me, it was as an infant. But God isn’t worried about time. God isn’t
concerned with my actions to obtain this eternal favor. God gives this new life
freely and without any cost of merit of my own. As I live, I sin. I can’t help
myself. I know better, but still fail. So, God turns to me as I turn to God
each and every day and ask God to forgive me and lead and guide me. Lead and
guide me through all my stages of life, like a marriage of sorts, in sickness
and in health, in suffering, in good times and in my death. God turns me around
and I can’t help but to face God.
And like
in this passage of Scripture, like Joseph, I ponder, I dream, I study God’s
Word and listen for the voice of God, even if it comes from angels. And in this
I lay my trust and hope. Yes, I “Point to Jesus.” It’s in that pointing that I
follow into the places of life that may frighten me and may place me in the
path of death.
But even
as Jesus came as a little child to this earth, He gets into the boat with me.
Jesus walks right through the stormy seas of life and calms the storm for me.
So, in those times that I fear, I can look, yes, “Point to Jesus.” Jesus is
right there with me all the time.
So, I think back in life. How God has come to me? How
God has taught me? God is always with me in the ups and downs of life, even
when I don’t think He is there.
Think back on Jesus’ life and how He lived, and gives me all I
ever need. Think back and give thanks. Thanks be to God!
Think back in life. Ponder what God has done for me. God deserves
praise and thanksgiving. Think back and ponder, even dream a bit. Thanks be to
God!
Jesus was born under the Law, to save me and you, as we live
under the Law.
I encourage you in this Christmas Season, to take time to
“Dream and Ponder and Listen” and act on God’s call in your life– today…
tomorrow… and forever. – Amen
I invite you to enjoy this YouTube Video that reminds me of
Joseph…
“I Woke Up This Morning With My Mind Stayed On Jesus”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeIMBTAx2Zw&list=RDHeIMBTAx2Zw&start_radio=1
No comments:
Post a Comment