By Timothy W. Burnett
"And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way." God is so loving and gracious to all who reverence Him. The Magi were not Israelites. Yet they were humble to the signs in the heavens. They were meek to search out the scriptures and begin their journey to Jerusalem and ultimately to Bethlehem. Even their gifts of treasures were not held back. And they showed proper respect to the young child. God truly looks upon the heart.
Continuing with 2:13, "And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee 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 into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 'Out of Egypt have I called my son.'" There should be no doubt that Joseph was a man after God's own heart. He put God and His word first on his list of priorities.
"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men [Magi from the east], 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 enquired of the wise men." There it is...right in God's word. Herod discovered that the child was around two years old when he questioned the Magi (recorded in verse 7). His choice of two years and under was not random, but a result of diligent enquiry into the Magi's astronomical observations. We can also note that this event was one of many spiritual attempts by the devil to kill the seed of the woman prophesied of in Genesis 3:15.
Matthew 2:17, "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy [Jeremiah] the prophet, saying, 'In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, 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 appeareth 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.' And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, 'He shall be called a Nazarene.'" Once again, Joseph received God's word and meekly moved. We can see throughout these accounts that God truly picked the best of His people to raise His beloved child Jesus Christ. They put God's will first in their lives. Their example of faithfulness and meekness was seen in Jesus' life when he said, "...nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matthew 26:37-46).
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