Why was Jesus hidden in Egypt?
Is there a reason Jesus was hidden in Egypt and not another area?
Matthew 2:13 - 15
ESV - 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt
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Asked December 28 2013
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Roland Garces
Supporter
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Joshua Kweku Godchild
Supporter
It is to fulfill the prophecies made in the bible at Hosea 11:1. You know the life of Christ was to fulfill the scriptures, and so whatever the scripture says must come true. And so that's why all this happened.
Emo Tenorio
Supporter
I believe that Egypt was chosen for the purpose of showing us that while in a vile pagan world for a season our Lord did not become part of it! And in God's perfect season would return to His own land and people untouched by the pagan environment He endured while in it, but not of it. Consider over one hundred ways the career of Joseph was a parallel or a "type," of Jesus Christ. Also Egypt was the land where Jacob's seventy member family became a nation, staying for over four hundred years until Exodus. Genesis 37:28........Genesis 47:27 In the Lord's freedom............warrior on
Kenneth Heck
Supporter
In Ex. 4:22 Moses was directed by the LORD to say to Pharaoh: "Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:" So, the Israelites, later called the Jews at the time of Christ, had a firstborn distinction. Christ, as the firstborn of the Father and of spiritual Israel, was also sent and called back from Egypt, in fulfillment of Hosea 11:1, according to Matt 2:15. Judaism and Christianity are destined to become one religion at the second coming of Christ when the two sticks of Zech 11:14 are reunited. This is the most likely reason Christ was hidden in Egypt.
tom TOm
Supporter
Two thoughts came to me while i was reading this passage today: 1. This is a 144 km walk through the punishing desert, wilderness. 2. Mary had just given birth. It must have been very challenging on her. Joseph and Mary obeyed nonetheless. One may offer up many excuses and probably even question God's wisdom as so many have asked. May we all learn to be like Joseph and Mary: OBEY and GO. Can the Almighty God not protect His Only Begotten Son from the enemy in Bethlehem? I am sure He can... easily. But God did not take the shortcuts in life. This should also be an example for us to live by. Some lessons given by God require that we go through our Egypt. May we simply OBEY and GO. He will surely show us the WHY later. EVEN if He does not, we still OBEY because our Father knows BEST.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Good question, Roland Garces! Herod felt he needed to annihilate the Child Jesus, so God cautioned Joseph to take the youngster and Mary and escape to Egypt. Egypt was close. There were numerous Jews there, and the fortunes got from the magi would more than pay the costs for voyaging and living there. Be that as it may, there was likewise another prediction to satisfy, Hosea 11:1: "I got my Son out of Egypt."
Aftab Yunis
Supporter
It is important to find answers from the Bible rather than any other source. This story is depicted in the Gospel of Matthew and Matthew's audience is Jews. God brought Israelites out of Egypt; (the firstborn son, according to Exodus 4:22-23). In a similar way, Jesus went to Egypt so that being the Only-begotten Son, He also came out of Egypt. Both stories present the contrast between Israel and Jesus' ministry. On the one hand, Jesus remained obedient and faithful till His death on the cross, while on the other hand, Isreal remained unfaithful in accomplishing God's mission. Psalm 78, and Hosea11 are the depiction of Israel's calling, disobedience, and unfaithfulness. As a result, the nation that was taken out of Egypt to show God's wonders appeared to be unworthy in God's eyes. The only Hope for Isreal had to wait for His Son Jesus Christ, who would not be a model to follow, but rather a deliverer who would take them out of this unfaithfulness and disobedience.
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