Yesterday we studied the passage from Matthew 2:13-23 as we studied the aftereffects of Herod's wrath against "the child who has been born king of the Jews" (2:2). The angel of the Lord comes to warn the holy family and they flee to Egypt. God goes with them, provides for them and protects them. An upcoming book, "Jesus in Egypt" will chronicle traditions and legends about the time the family spent in Egypt. Our main point during worship were these four words, GOD IS WITH US.
Let us go to our study guide:
Monday: The sermon yesterday mentioned the first couple to leave a land. Compare the story of Abram and Sarai in their leaving their country with that of Joseph and Mary. What are the similarities and what are the differences? Which of these two journeys would you have preferred? Why?
The Abram/Sarai story is found in Genesis 12:1-20 and Joseph/Mary’s story is found in Matthew 2:13-23. Again, the question from yesterday applies today, where are you traveling and why? Are you serving God in your daily journeys?
12:1-20: 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, 6. Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb. 10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien.
Interesting both families were in Egypt. Both were asked (some would say "ordered") to leave their families to an unknown place. One was to begin the promised race of God, the other to protect the Son of God. Neither journey was easy, but both had God with them. The journey of Abram and Sarai started a long journey to find the promised land of God. The journey of Joseph and Mary was to protect He who was born to bring us into the Kingdom of God.
Of both, we can say that God was with them. Of both, God provided and protected. Of the one I would have chosen I can't decide. Neither was easy. I shared my sojourns into Denver in the early 70s and my comical experiences with my trying to find Mexican food. A family seated on the front row was laughing the loudest and after church they told me they were from Colorado and when the first tried Mexican food they must have eaten at the same restaurant where they served corn chips (Fritos) and catsup! They couldn't stop laughing they said because their daughter born here in Texas was skeptic about "hot sauce" from Colorado. The daughter laughed when she discovered that it was the type of sauce that goes good with hash browns!
The main point is wherever we're journeying, God is with us. The "land" we're entering matters not, for God is with us. I said we could fill in the blank of whatever "land" it is that we find ourselves, despair, fear, doubt, financial worries, illness, the illness of a loved one, etc., etc. God is with us.
Keep those four words with you today: God is with me. And use them as the journey brings its challenges to you.
PRAYER: God of the journey stay with us. Give us hope, joy and courage. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
