The Jewish believing audience reading or hearing today’s passage would have likely been thinking of this story through the lens of the Old Testament. They would have been able to make a connection that would be helpful for us to make. Namely, many learned Jewish Christians would have known that Herod was not just a wicked and totally depraved earthly king: he was a pawn in a cosmic game being played to snuff out our Lord and Savior. When you read today, know that this man was an Edomite masquerading as a Jew, drawn from a lineage stretching back to Esau and doing the same things Esau (the father of Edomites) did: “How are the things of Esau searched out! How are his hidden things sought out!” (Obadiah 1:6). These “hidden things” Esau sought were completely controlled by dark powers and principalities, at every turn in history seeking to destroy Jesus and by way of doing that, you and me. Today’s passage is nothing short of a rescue mission where we see our Father preserving the life of the “firstborn of many sons” so that His blood would later cover our sins.
God calls His Son first into and then “out of Egypt”. He hides his Son whom we are hidden in.
Know that you are part of today’s story and praise His holy name, our Most High God, always working to protect us and to draw us towards a perfect peace to come.
Know that you are part of today’s story and praise His holy name.
Matthew 2:13-18
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.”
Herod Kills the Children
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children;
she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ God loves faithfulness. Who displayed faithfulness in verse 13?
+ See Numbers 24:8 and Hosea 11:1: how do these scriptural references point to Jesus being the Messiah? [ v. 15 ]
+ Why do you think Matthew included verses 17-18?
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ We were saved through a winding and intricate effort on God’s part. When you think of the intricacy of all that He has done, what feelings does it drive in you? Is there any thing or any action that you might offer up to Him as a sign of thanks?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?