Verse 11 They can’t help but fall to their knees to worship Him. They bring Joseph and Mary gifts, which by the way, being poor, they could really use. Some think they brought these gifts because of what they stand for. Gold was offered to a king. They honored God with the smoke of incense from Frankincense. And Myrrh signified a man that should die (it was used in embalming a dead body).

Verse 12 Though the wise men were instructed by Herod the king to return with the whereabouts of this Messiah. But God intercepted the mission with a message to not return. Those who are honest easily believe that others are honest too. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of evil’s trap. When we act with caution (Proverbs calls it being prudent) and seek God for direction, we can expect to be led in the right way. When we are obedient (we listen and act) to God’s revelations and His Word, He will continue to point us on the way to go.

Verse 13 Joseph gets another message in his dream from God. God speaks to us today in dreams too. God tells Joseph to flee to Egypt. Egypt is full of idol worship and they kill their children there too. But God, when he pleases, can make the worst of places serve the best of purposes. Egypt will be a refuge for Jesus. Joseph and Mary didn’t argue or question why God couldn’t just send an angel to protect Jesus in Bethlehem or strike Herod dead in Jerusalem. They just listened and obeyed. Some things we cannot explain why God chooses to do in the way that He does when He has the power and authority to do in another way that would be possibly easier on us. God tells them to remain in Egypt until He tells them to come out.

Joseph and Mary are dependent on God for direction. This is how our lives should be. Our “plans” need wiggle room for God to speak and direct the way. A verse in Proverbs says, “A man makes his plans, but the Lord orders his steps.” We might plan to have children, but the Lord will determine when, if, and where that’s happening.

Verse 14 Joseph obeyed God even though the journey was inconvenient and dangerous. Joseph rises and leaves immediately. He doesn’t wait or overthink it. He leaves in the middle of the night even. He doesn’t even wait until morning when it’s daylight. That’s how our faith needs to be. Responsive. Immediate. Joseph and Mary are completely dependent on God. Where will they live? How will they eat? That’s what faith looks like! We don’t have all the answers. We act and trust God. Trusting God is not building up our wealth with things we can see. Trusting God is going without the answers or provision.

Verse 15 In the Old Testament a prophet writes, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” (Hosea 11:1) That verse is referring to Exodus when God rescued his children, named Israel, out of Egypt. Here in Matthew, the author recalls that verse because “Israel” is an early indication or version or image of God’s Son coming in the future.

So this is saying as God called his son Israel out of Egypt, he will call his true Son out of Egypt. Interesting!!

God’s Word accomplishes many things. It applies to “this” and it applies to “that”. God is fulfilling His scriptures every day. The scriptures apply to back then and they apply right now. They are making themselves true today just as they were making themselves true back then.

When we read scripture, we must read it not only looking back in time but also looking forward to our future. Scripture is not done. It is always fulfilling itself. There are so many Old Testament scriptures that point to Jesus. Some are like a shadow of what’s to come. Like this verse with Israel being rescued from Egypt back then. It was a shadow of Jesus being called out of Egypt later. Some foretell specifically what will happen. In this instance, the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.

Some believe Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were in Egypt for a few months. Others believe it was 7 years. We don’t know how long Joseph, Mary, and Jesus stayed in Egypt but eventually, God did call them to return to Nazareth.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me out of the spiritual places of darkness and shining a light on Your Truth. I honor you with all that I am and all that I can give. May my life be a living sacrifice to you, sharing your gospel and living your gospel message. Thank you for delivering me from temptation and always having my back when the enemy is at work. Fill my heart with caution and help me to recognize when the enemy is setting a trap. Speak to me and lead me in the right way to go today. I believe that even though my circumstances are not what I had hoped they would be, You are working out your good purposes in the worst of situations. You are my refuge in this place. Help my spirit to just listen and obey You, without asking questions or giving explanations. I am dependent on Your direction, God, and my desire is to obey even when it’s inconvenient or dangerous. I don’t want to wait over overthink it. I want to act immediately like Joseph. I trust You, God. Help me to take Your Word and apply it to my life today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.