Bible Verse Synopsis 2-19-25
Matthew 2:
In Matthew’s representation of the wise men, they come not to Bethlehem but to somewhere else. We know Mary and Joseph left Bethlehem very shortly after Jesus’s birth. The scripture mentions the “young child” which I would say is not a baby. The wise men, after sharing their gifts, left back to their own country another way as they were warned not to return to Herod. We know that Herod had evil in his heart towards the “King of the Jews”. God was the instrument that led the wise men to Jesus and away from Him. How blessed are we to know that God has the power to direct us in our lives as He directed the wise men. To revive this we must open our hearts and our desires to Him and Him alone. Any self serving must be disregarded and the Lord will provide you what He knows you need.
The evidence of Herod’s evil comes in the next 2 stanzas. Herod orders the murder of ever child under 2 in Bethlehem. This gives us a timeline to when he has last seen the wise men. At least according to Matthew. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus flee into Egypt for safety via a message from the Lord. It also fulfill the scripture saying, “Out of Egypt have I called my Son.”
After Herod passed, Joseph was called in a dream to return to Israel. In the travels, God told him to divert and go to Nazareth. So Jesus was raised here. Seeing God work in His servants life is such a great thing. What an example the Holy family is to us in our lives. With God literally by their side, their every move was directed by the Lord. We can also achieve this directive through dedication and putting our selfish needs aside. Know and seek Him and despise sin.