Following Jesus Through Egypt

David W Palmer

(Matthew 2:13 NKJV) … An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

The wise men sought Jesus to worship him. However, Herod’s motive for finding baby Jesus was entirely different; he wanted to destroy him. Joseph and Mary had received Jesus into their lives; but before he had a chance to grow to maturity, the enemy wanted to annihilate the threat of having him take control of everything—their lives, their kingdom, the world.

Joseph and Mary were the custodians—if you like—of the growing Jesus; they had a part to play in his protection, nourishing, and nurture until he was ready to take over [as Lord] … not only the running of his own life, but theirs also. Meanwhile, with God’s guidance and with the help of his angels, they were shown what to do: “Flee to Egypt, and stay there until …”

Joseph had received the revelation he needed to keep following the Jesus-mission for their lives. But to be under God’s protection, they had to obey … instantly!

(Matthew 2:14 NKJV) When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt.

Joseph obeyed the instant he “arose”; they departed for Egypt “by night.” Egypt in Scripture represents the world’s system. As amazing as it seems to us, at times God sends his people into the world system for safekeeping. (As long as we remember that Jesus said we are in the world but not of the world (John 17:11-16)) After all, he can protect us no matter where we are. As long as we are in his will, we are under his covering; and while there, he pays the bill. This brings to mind the magnitude of the wealthy offering the wise men brought to this humble family—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. God had already provided for their exile in a “safe house” in Egypt.

Note: our only hope for this type of guidance, provision, and protection is by dwelling in his “secret place” so that we too can receive minute-by-minute guidance:

(Psalm 91:1 NKJV) He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

God protected Jesus, his mother, and Joseph in Egypt until the danger in Israel subsided:

(Matthew 2:15–16 NKJV) And was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” {16} Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

Safety for your Jesus-life is only certain in the center of God’s will. Joseph and Mary sidestepped complete disaster by following God’s guidance—despite it seeming completely illogical. What’s more, they had no need to worry or feel forgotten. Not only were they living in God’s protection and provision; but also when the time was perfect for their return, God called them back more ready than ever to fulfill their destiny:

(Matthew 2:19–21 NKJV) Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, {20} saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” {21} Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

Jesus is in you like he was in Mary, and with you like he was with Joseph and Mary after his birth. Prompt and implicit obedience in following where he would have you to go is your only hope of complete protection:

(Hebrews 5:9 CJB) And after he had been brought to the goal, he became the source of eternal deliverance to all who obey him.

This is particularly real in our treacherous contemporary times. We need to be always alert and willing to go where Jesus needs us to go—even when it seems illogical, like when God told Joseph to go to Egypt. In Joseph’s history and memory, this was a place of slavery and torture—a regime that had tried before to kill the promise of Jesus’s destiny. Yet now, God said that Egypt would be the very place that would provide the safe haven to keep Jesus alive.

Meanwhile, as they were enjoying God’s provision and protection in their safe haven, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah that they had welcomed into their lives was growing—preparing to take care of himself and them while putting right the problems of his nation and the whole world.

Today, I am encouraging you to dwell in the secret place with God. Don’t merely visit God’s throne of grace; abide there; dwell in the “secret place” (See: Psalm 91:1). Be like John at the last supper: lean entirely on Jesus; keep your ear close to His heartbeat. Then, when you receive guidance and revelation, be like Joseph; obey instantly—even if it seems completely illogical. It may even feel like a backward step, or a foolhardy excursion into a place that was previously an enemy to your destiny. But, if it is God’s assigned place for you for a season, you can be sure you will be “under the shadow of the Almighty” while you are there.

Maybe you feel that God has sent you on a diversion—perhaps even into the world’s system for a time. But if God sent you there, you can rejoice today that he will provide for you, protect you there, and prepare you for your return to fruitful full function. Meanwhile, everyday Jesus in you—your complete identity, destiny, and calling—is growing.