The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 2:13-18, “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream,
saying, “Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is
going to search for the Child to destroy Him.”
14 And he arose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed for Egypt;
15 and was there until the death of Herod, that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled,
saying, “Out of Egypt did I call My Son.”
16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the
male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time
which he had ascertained from the magi.
17 Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to
be comforted, Because they were no more.”

I can only imagine how difficult it was for the magi to leave the Christ Child and return home. Visiting spiritual people always begs for more time in their presence. At the same time, the magi doubtlessly remembered Herod’s instruction:
“…and when you have found Him, report to me, that I too may come and worship Him.” Still, they a greater warning. They were “warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, (so) they departed for their own country by another way.”

Now, with the magi gone, the angel of the LORD appears to Joseph and directs him to flee with the Child and His mother to Egypt until further notice, because Herod was intending to slay the Child in the effort to protect his throne.
Interestingly enough, the departure of Joseph and his family not only protected the Child from Herod’s intended wrath, it fulfilled the promise of Hosea (11:1), “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

We are also taught here that it is not always cowardice to run away. In this instance, of course, it was a protection for the Child Jesus. In a much earlier instance, the shepherd boy David turned away from his brothers, who mocked him, as Goliath boldly challenged the army of Israel (1 Sam. 17:28-29). There’s an old saying that says, “Those who flee and run away, will live to fight another day.”

Learning that the magi had returned to their far-away home without revealing the location of the Child Jesus, Herod, in his fury, gave orders that all male children two years old and under living in Bethlehem were to be slain. The number was probably not more than about 20, based upon the size of the village of Bethlehem and its environs. Herod might have been even more furious had he known that his evil act was itself a fulfillment of the biblical prophecy of Jeremiah 31:15.

It’s understandable that there was no argument from Joseph about fleeing to Egypt. What is not understandable is the refusal of obedience to the LORD by many people today. The same Satanic force that directed evil in the life of Herod, works in people today to keep them from accepting Christ Jesus as their Savior and LORD. Is Satan working to keep you from trusting Jesus? If he is, then it’s time for you to run away from him and find the love and safety that resides in Jesus. You are in my prayers.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom