Arise and Go to Israel Matthew 2:20

Matthew shared what happened when Herod, “saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt”, and in chapter two and verse twenty of his book, Matthew shared how the “angel” told Joseph, “arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: ...” Matthew began with the word, “saying” which means “uttering, proclaiming and declaring”, “arise” or “rise, arouse from sleep and raise up”, “and take” or “and carry” “the young child” which means “the little boy or toddler” “and his mother” or “and the little child's mother Mary”, “and go” which means “and lead and depart” “into the land” or “to the arable land, ground, country and region” “of Israel” which refers to “belonging to Israel which means he shall be prince”. Matthew shared how the “angel” instructed Joseph to “take” Jesus and Mary back to the “land of Israel”.

The verse goes on to say, “... for they are dead which sought the young child's life.” Matthew added the word, “for” which means “because, since and on account that” “they are dead” or “the people who are deceased, not living and without life” “which sought” or “that looked for, craved, demanded and endeavored to destroy” “the young child's life” which means “the little boy or toddler's vitality and breath”. Matthew shared how the “angel” informed Joseph that the people who were seeking to kill Jesus were now “dead”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how God preserved His Son Messiah Jesus in Egypt until the people who were attempting to “kill” Him were “dead” themselves. God had a plan to “save” people from their sins, and when He kept Jesus alive by sending His angel to Joseph in a dream, He knew those opposing His Son would soon die and Joseph and His family would return to Israel. God knew “salvation” was necessary for mankind if they were going to live with Him forever, and as He kept Joseph, Mary and Jesus alive in Egypt, He also knew Herod and His cohorts would die and Jesus would remain alive. Let God be praised who has done all things well!

Next time Matthew shares how Joseph to, “arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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