Saturday, February 3, 2007
Matthew 2:13-15 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."
OUT OF EGYPT -- THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED
"That it might be fulfilled which was spoken . . ." are equally important words for us. For without them we would not know just how dependable our God is. It is easy to make promises, to say things and then in the next moment forget about those promises. One can easily deny promises merely stated, but if and when written down as are all of the promises of God, one cannot deny them. The fulfillment of them builds up trust and confidence that here is the God who not only makes but also keeps His promises. He sees to it that they are fulfilled.
While this event in the life of Jesus, being called out of Egypt, might seem to us a small thing, we are shown that even what we might consider a small matter, God does not. Rather even the smallest of promises, God keeps. This He does that we may know without any doubt that He is the faithful God even in the small things, that we may also trust His promises in those things which are "big".
We therefore have the firm and certain assurance that all that God in Christ Jesus has done and has accomplished is fact, not fiction. It will be done and is done. Therefore, we are certain that our faith is not a useless thing, but sees us through into eternity. Our sins are forgiven. We are God's dear children. Our home is in heaven, and it is to our home that God will bring us -- that it will be fulfilled which He has spoken through the prophets, through the evangelists, through the Apostles, and above all through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Out of Egypt He has called us that it might be fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Word, the Amen.
