GOD OF THE DETAILS

January 6, 2016

GOD OF THE DETAILS

Matthew 2:13–23

Janie Stephens

Central Truth

God directs, protects, and cares for His children who trust and obey His Word.

This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt I called my son." (Matthew 2:15b)

The Flight to Egypt

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.”

The Return to Nazareth

19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

I am one who often struggles with fear. Fear of failure, of making a mistake, of the unknown . . . you get the idea. In today’s passage, we see the newborn baby Jesus, along with His parents, Joseph and Mary, facing a fearful circumstance—King Herod is out to kill Jesus.

As our passage opens, Joseph and Mary are unaware of the impending danger. But God knows and intervenes via a dream, telling Joseph to escape to Egypt with his family and remain there until further notice. Without fully knowing all the details, Joseph immediately obeys God’s instruction. His life and plans are now derailed to Egypt for an indefinite period of time. Do you feel like your life has been derailed to “Egypt” for an indefinite period of time—even as you have obeyed God? Take courage! Stay the course! Trust God's direction upon your life. God directs, protects, and cares for His children who trust and obey His Word.

Indeed, unbeknownst to Joseph and Mary, this seeming life interruption actually sets the stage for one of many fulfilled prophecies within the life of Jesus Christ. After Herod’s death, Jesus, Joseph, and Mary are safe to return to Israel from Egypt, thereby fulfilling prophecy as Jesus’ personal history is made to parallel Israel’s national history. Recalling the Exodus, God brought His “son” Israel out of Egypt, delivering them from Egyptian slavery. Here, God is bringing His true Son, Jesus Christ, out of Egypt that He may deliver God’s people from slavery to sin. The same God who reveals the future governs history.

God is in control of the details—yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Prophecy proves this! He works all things—even Herod’s evil intentions and even the evil that might come into our own lives—for the good of those who belong to Him, for His glory. When I fall to fear, I am actually saying that I believe someone or something is more powerful than God. That's impossible! God is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, all-loving. With a God such as this, truly, what have we to fear?!

1. Why did King Herod desire to kill baby Jesus?

2. Why is it important that the Bible includes fulfilled prophecy?

3. What or whom do you fear? What do your fears tell you about how you perceive God and His influence on your life?

4. In what situation or relationship are you not fully trusting that God is in complete control?

5. How have you experienced God’s direction, protection, and care throughout your life?