Matthew 2:13-23

Matthew 2:13-23
We come back to the Christmas story right here in July! My mother had a cousin (who is now in heaven) who spent her adult life as a missionary in Africa. Her name was Marian Thurston, and I remember her telling us that the African Christians sing the Christmas carols year around. And why not? Christ's birth is a beautiful and important part of God's plan, and it's appropriate to remember it any time.

As we come to this second half of Matthew 2, we will notice that no less than 3 Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled here. This reminds us that God's Word is a beautiful and intricate tapestry, and it all fits together perfectly. On this side of eternity, we are looking at the "back" of the tapestry, and so we don't always understand and appreciate all of God's workings, but the part that we do see and understand is a wonderful thing. God (through an angel of the Lord) instructed Joseph to take Jesus to Egypt for His safety. This is a fulfillment of Hosea 11:1.

The murderous tyrant Herod was so threatened by the "King of the Jews" that he ordered the killing of "all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who ere two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi." v. 16 This fulfilled Jeremiah 31:15. We can only imagine the fear and rage these families felt along with the "weeping and great mourning" and the refusal to be comforted. We should remember that even today in the world there are vicious dictators and others who show no mercy or regard for human life and suffering. God sees all this, and He is not pleased even when it is done in the name of "religion."

After Herod's death, God again instructs Joseph, and this time he is to return with his family to Israel. Not accidentally, because God was directing his steps, he ended up in a little town called Nazareth. This also fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.

You know, when we think of Jesus' birth, we often think of Mary who believed God and trusted Him, but I think Joseph is also a hero, though often an unsung one. He believed and obeyed God at every turn. What an example!