Called Out of Egypt / Paul Thomas Smith

Excerpt from Birth of the Messiah by Paul Thomas Smith. 
(reading only)

Some time later, following Herod's death, an angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life" (Matt. 2:20).

It is apparent from Matthew 2:22 that Joseph and Mary had planned to return to Judea either to live or to visit the temple or family members, but as they approached that province they were directed otherwise. They probably also learned that Judea was in turmoil. Thousands of angry Israelites, gathered on the temple mount, had rebelled against Herod's son Archelaus, his successor, seeking relief from high taxes and unemployment. They demanded freedom for political prisoners and sought to appoint their own high priest to preside over the temple. Archelaus sent squads of soldiers against them, and 3,000 Jews were killed in the ensuing battle.²⁶

Such was the atmosphere in Judea when Joseph and Mary passed by. Warned in a dream, they went instead to Galilee to settle in their former hometown, Nazareth, "that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene" (Matt. 2:23).

How significant and glorious was the long-awaited birth of the Messiah. Small wonder, then, that angels heralded the event. We, too, herald this event. This Christmas season, let us ponder and treasure the meaning of the Messiah's miraculous birth.