Safe--For Now
"Rise, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt..." - Matthew 2:13b
After the Wise Men worshiped the Christ Child, God warned them not to report back to Herod. So they avoided Jerusalem and returned to their country by another route. It wouldn't take long for Herod to realize he had been duped, and God knew just how furious that would make the old tyrant. So he sent an angel to Joseph in a dream.
The angel warned Joseph of Herod's murderous intent and told him to get up immediately and flee to Egypt. So in the middle of the night Joseph arose, took His wife and her child and led them to safety in Egypt.
Jesus escaped death this time, but He would not escape it forever. He had a date with death--actually a battle with death--a battle for all the spoils. Almost 30 years later, Jesus would go back to Jerusalem to be arrested, tried, condemned and nailed to a cross. And by His death and resurrection on the third day, He would swallow up death forever. - Lutheran Hour Ministries, 2010
For the next month, we will be learning about the early years of Jesus' life, as we come to know better, the Light of the World. Then next month, beginning on Wednesday, February 22nd, we will begin a set of devotions for Lent. These will follow Jesus as He boldly makes His way to the cross to set us free from death and hell.