The Journey Continues: The Rest of the Story
The past two weeks this column examined the birth of Christ, our Savior, and the arrival of the Magi. Today, we continue the holy family’s journey with the rest of the story.
"When they (the Magi) had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph
in a dream. ‘Get up’, he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.' So he (Joseph) got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the
death of Herod…” Matthew 2:13-14
It is thought that they stayed there for two years. Travel was no easy task. It was approximately 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and 300 miles from Egypt to return to Nazareth.
"After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother and go
to the land of Israel." Matthew 2:19-20
They were going home. From the holy family’s acts of faith, we can learn some lessons for application in our life:
1. Every journey can involve detours. The holy family followed God’s messenger and became refugees in Egypt before returning to Nazareth in Galilee.
2. Journey often includes waiting. Faith in God can require us to learn patience, obedience and trust. Joseph waited two years in Egypt for direction from the angel to return home.
3. Every journey can involve roadblocks. The devil used Herod to try to stop, block or kill the transformative and redemptive work of Christ. We can look at Herod as “sin” from both the “Micro” view – personal behavior, lack of discipline, unfettered desires, laziness – and from the “Macro” view – cultural roadblocks, perceived injustices, felt discrimination, unspoken feelings of injustice and hate.
4. Every journey can involve change. Joseph and Mary followed the angel’s direction, which took them a way other than what they had planned. Sometimes, in our lives, our original plans change and lead us a different way.
New Years is a specific point in time when we look ahead. The question is are we willing to travel a different way in our life? Like the holy family, will we trust God and follow him, even if it means a change in direction?
