REPOST

“as long as there has been history, there has been
Egypt….it is a land that God has used for His
purposes throughout all earthly time.”
-Richard M. Romney

Im a hopeless romantic…but there certainly cant be anything romantic about the sojourn that Joseph and Mary HAD to take to Egypt!! But…I have had this picture in my scriptures for years, because it seems so romantic!! When Joseph was awakened in the night, and commanded by an angel to flee to Egypt, there could have been nothing romantic about leaving in the dark of night, with a sense of urgency and of secrecy! (Joseph must have been a MOST patient man…first having to deal with his betrothed wife becoming ‘mysteriously’ pregnant. Then conceding to Gods will and marrying quickly. Next, having to travel long distances to comply with the Romans and the census taking and tax collectors. All the while taking care of a wife heavy with child. Then…dealing with not being able to find a place of refuge for his laboring wife while in the bustling city. Oh Joseph…the burdens you were asked to bear!!)

After fleeing through the desert, we have no idea if this sweet pair had any idea of the death and carnage they were leaving behind in their wake??? Two year olds on down to infants were being murdered in their homes….Nothing romantic about that!!!!!!!! Horrific-in fact!!!!!!!! Im realizing that fleeing from the jealous rage of Herod could have only been accomplished because of the ‘gifts’ that the wise men brought them, in reverence to the Christ child. Joseph and Mary were far too poor to have been able to accomplish such a journey without this blessing.
Traveling 700 miles (round trip) in the desert on the back of a mule…nothing romantic here either!!
There may have been some upsides to this required banishment to a distant land though.
There is nothing in the scriptures to tell us about what life was like while they spent 2 years in Egypt .(until the death of Herod) But I like to imagine this period as a quiet, peaceful time in this threesomes lives. A time when they could enjoy each others company without much disturbance, with no worrying about what the future would hold for Jesus. A bonding time. It was a time to enjoy all the normal things that parents relish with a beautiful first born son. They were refugees!! They were strangers in a strange land. They were foreigners. They didn’t speak the language. I have heard the Egyptians are gracious people. That they are friendly and hospitable. I understand there is a common custom for the people to have pottery jars of water gracing the front of many a humble home, so that travelers may enjoy a cool drink in their hot, arid land. I have also heard that Egypt has a history of being the country which first granted asylum?? Interesting. The bible refers to Egypt as being a place of sanctuary. You may recall both Abraham and Jacob took their families to Egypt to escape great famines? Jews fled to Egypt when wicked kings stormed Jerusalem. Now Mary and Joseph were learning first hand about this safe haven. Was this Jesus’s first lesson on what it felt like to not have a home? Did He start at this very young age to have empathy for others who feel ‘misplaced‘?? Did this humble family also realize that this episode was fulfilling prophecy? Matt 2:15 “Out of Egypt have I called my son.“ Probably not…they just wanted safety for their family.
Merry Christmas season to all!! May we remember that Gods hand is in ALL things!! Even in our seemingly unimportant existence. Its true!!!!!!!!