And was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying ‘Out of Egypt have I called my Son’. Matthew 2:15
If we read Hosea 11:1, we see that the verse Matthew quotes in today’s text refers initially to Israel. God’s calling of His earthly people out of the bondage of Egypt was one of the greatest highlights in that nation’s history. Marked by miraculous events, Divine guidance, and glorious deliverance, the Exodus is a fascinating story and is evidence that God indeed called His people out of Egypt and into their promised land. His calling of His Son, the Lord Jesus, out of Egypt was also for deliverance, but for us, not for Him.
We know that the Lord Jesus came to be our Deliverer by dying on the cross for our sins. We know that our eternal salvation is based on His finished work and God’s acceptance of His sacrifice. But there is so much more to our deliverance than the saving of our souls. We are being delivered every day from Satan’s wiles and temptation’s snares, from the weakness of our flesh as we live in an ungodly world, and from all manner of evil that might befall us.
When the Lord Jesus was called out of Egypt, He was called to Nazareth. In a town of low reputation, He was identified with a humble family and associated with humble neighbours. In such an environment, His deity could be observed in His obedience to His earthly parents and His adherence to His Father’s will. He declared while yet a boy His need to be about His Father’s business. His calling out of Egypt was a calling into a world where He would prove His claim to be our Deliverer. As He rose through childhood and adolescence and into manhood, He encountered many of the same situations that you and I face daily… and He was always victorious. He offers us today that victory as we seek to live for Him.
Where do we obtain our reference points for living for God? From reading of the life of the Lord Jesus in the Gospels. Where do we learn how to respond to a world that has no time for our Saviour? By learning His words and His response to those He encountered. Our knowledge of Him is our safety net in our Christian walk. Even if we are called upon to suffer for Him, we cannot be less than victorious if we abide in His will.
The calling of the Lord Jesus out of Egypt is part of God’s eternal purpose for us to have a victorious Christian life. That includes today and everything that today brings. -Jim MacIntosh