Posted on by Paul N. Merideth

Flight to Egypt

Not a modern jet flight with first-class comfort and convenience; no, not even coach. They weren’t gazing out the window at the beautiful turquoise of the Mediterranean from 30,000 feet up. Instead, it was a harrowing trip by foot, taking them through the Sinai desert along long stretches of barren terrain at night. Not an easy trip for any young family. But Joseph has a precious treasure to protect. Here is infant Jesus, guarded by Joseph and Mary, escaping to an unlikely place of refuge from a maniac king.

In Matthew’s account of the flight to Egypt (Matthew 2:11-21), we read of a journey marked by adversity, fear, and, ultimately, the unwavering faithfulness of God’s providence. What is in one moment a beautiful scene of worship and adoration to the newborn king by the magi quickly turns to a pressured escape from a lunatic Herod. “Flee to Egypt (the angel says to Joseph)… for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” It was a narrow escape. “And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt.”

Here we see divine action, the angelic warning, and their instant obedience. Joseph obeys the angel’s instructions precisely and immediately, even waking his family in the night to flee. They followed directions well.

Yet why would Herod want to kill an infant? He made the bizarrely cruel decision to slaughter dozens of young boys to exterminate the one he thought could dethrone him. Did he feel his petty power threatened? What kind of egomaniac, what sort of tyrant, what kind of madman could commit such bloodthirsty crimes? Maybe Satan knew God was up to something big and leveraged all his demonic might to try to stop humanity’s redemption at its most vulnerable moment. We don’t know for sure. But we do know that at the divine direction, a messenger 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.” This is Joseph’s mission. His purpose moment. Take, flee, remain. What a good father.

If entrusted with something valuable, it must be protected. In this moment of urgency, Joseph, who doesn’t get a lot of airtime in the text, steps up to do his duty. This is his shining moment to serve the Lord at a crucial time in redemptive history. He fulfills his mission.

And so for us, when we are entrusted, sometimes even unexpectedly, with something valuable, we must cherish and protect it. Maybe for you, it means being a responsible parent prioritizing the precious young faith of your children. Perhaps you are in the season of life where God has entrusted you with care for a senior parent. And though their memory is fading and their dependency ever increasing, you obey your mission from the Lord to honor your father and mother. And consider, maybe it’s your own faith that needs to take a flight to Egypt to protect it from being murdered by temptation.

Thankfully, we know that God is faithful in his promises, and we do well to flee to him in our dark moments. “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26).

The flight to Egypt is a powerful demonstration to God’s providential care in the face of adversity, and the obedient response of God’s faithful servants. As we navigate the challenges of our own journeys, let us remember that God’s plans often unfold in unexpected ways. Whether in moments of adoration, seeking refuge, or facing the sorrow of a broken world, God remains faithful, guiding us through the shadows toward the light of His redemptive purpose.

May we find solace in the assurance that, just as God protected the family on their journey, he is with us in our own pilgrimages of faith. Trust in God’s providence, obey his directions, for in him we find our refuge and our hope.

Paul Merideth

  • 49th Week of 2023 Reading: LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
  • Prayer to God: “Heavenly Father, please give us peace to still today’s anxieties, help us be generous with forgiveness to quench our bitterness against others, and inspire us with passion to pursue kingdom work faithfully. We confess our sins and appeal always to Christ as our savior. As we are watched, help us show the way, through our attitude and actions, for others to better know your righteousness. We commit anew to you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”
  • Video Devotional Spotlight: Two Advents
  • Christmas Gift Recommendation: Why not give a small book in the stocking of that 5th grader you love? “Twenty and Ten” by Claire Huchet Bishop tells the story of ordinary kids, inspired by the Bible’s story of the flight to Egypt, deciding to shelter ten Jewish children from Nazi brutalization.
  • Sermon Preview: Throughout December I’m preaching a series based on Matthew’s Gospel. Coming next is a dive into chapter 10, where we see Jesus who is himself on mission, giving a mission to his select apostles. You’re invited to come and worship with us.