And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his
mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for
Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
After the wise men (when they departed phrase) left, an angel of the
Lord came to Joseph in a dream. This is the second time we see the Lord speak
to Joseph through a dream, the first was to take Mary as his wife. In this
dream, the Lord again calls Joseph to immediate action: Get up and flee to Egypt! Herod will seek Jesus’ life! Not only did
the Lord tell Joseph to go, but He had already provided expensive gifts for
Jesus through the wise men that likely would be used to provide for them on
their journey and exile in Egypt, plus God assured Joseph that He would tell
him when to come back to Israel.
14 When he arose, he took the
young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
Immediately we see Joseph rising from
his bed and taking Mary and Jesus away by night. He did not wait till morning.
If he had, he would have been disobedient. It is important for us to realize
that delayed obedience to the Lord’s Word is disobedience.
15 And
was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Again, through the workings of Jesus’
infancy, God fulfills prophecy—out of Egypt the Son of God will be called back
to the lost sheep of Israel.
Matt 2:13-15 (KJV)
