THE GOSPELS – The flight to Egypt, Matthew 2:13-15

5 February 2025

We are studying Matthew chapter 2:13-15 today entailing the FLIGHT TO EGYPT.

We are mainly reading from the Complete Jewish Study Bible – insight for Jews and Christians with cross references to other Bible versions. As well as the Nelson’s Foundational Bible Dictionary.

As you know we are using the Hebrew names of God the Father, namely YHVH (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) where the word LORD in capital letters is used in standard versions of the Bible, and we will also use the description Heavenly Father and Abba Father.  And we also use the Hebrew Name Yeshua the Messiah instead of the English Name Jesus Christ translated from the Greek.

We ended last week with verse 12 with the MAGI that were warned in a DREAM not to return to Herod, so they took another route back to their country.

And we further read in Matthew 2:13 “After they had gone, an ANGEL of YHVH appeared to Joseph and said: ‘Get up, take the Child and His mother, and escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave. For Herod is going to look for the Child in order to kill Him.”

The AFRIKAANS BIBLE in PRACTISE explains: This was the second dream in which God appeared to Joseph. In the first dream He disclosed to Joseph that Mary’s Child would be the Messiah (Matthew 1:20-21). And in this second dream YHVH said to Joseph that he had to save the Child’s life. Although Joseph was not Yeshua’s biological father, he was his legal father with the responsibility for His well-being and safety.

We see here an ANGEL of YHVH appeared to Joseph. The meaning of the GREEK WORD ANGELOS translated as ANGEL in English, is MESSENGER. In Hebrew the word is MAL’AK Angels are an order of created beings, superior to man and EMPLOYED in the SERVICE of GOD (read Psalm 8:5, Hebrews 1:14 and 2:7). Angels can take on a form or body. We are told in Hebrews 13:2 not to forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unknowingly entertained angels unawares (unexpectedly). Scripture records different ORDERS of angels as indicated by the expression’s archangel and chief angel (in Daniel 8:16, 9:21, 10:13 & 21, 12:1 and Luke 1:19 & 26). There are also different types of angelic beings such as cherubim and seraphim and the four living creatures around the THRONE of GOD as described in Revelation 4:7-8. CHERIBUM are POWERFUL SPIRITUAL BEINGS. We first read of them in Genesis 3:24 as they guarded the way to the TREE OF LIFE after the fall. And golden images of these MIGHTY ANGELIC beings were places over the MERCY SEAT on top of the ARK of the COVENANT. Representation of the CHERIBUM were widely used in the decoration of the TABERNACLE and later the TEMPLE. In Ezekiel 10 as well as Revelation 4 we read the description of the CHREIBUM with their several wings and four faces as WORSHIPPING GUARDIANDS of GOD’s GLORY. SEARPHIM ANGELS are mentioned in Isaiah 6 and the word comes from the VERB SARAPH meaning “to burn” and appears in the context of HOLINESS and they declare the HOLINESS of GOD by singing in His presence: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY! (read Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8). They have six wings and fly. It seems that they and the CHERIBUM are not really that different. Hebrews 1:14 gives believers the assurance that angels are MINISTERING SPIRITS sent forth to minister to those who will INHERIT SALVATION.

Yeshua said that He could call on twelve legions of angels to rescue Him (read Matthew 26:53). A legion is made up of 6000 solders, so 12 legions equal 72,000 angels. Traditional art portrays ANGELS as pale, delicate young men and women, with golden curls and snowy robes and feathered wings like doves BUT the picture that Scripture pains is FAR different. Many time ANGELS appear in Scripture as MESSENGERS from GOD who were sent to speak to humans and themselves looking like MEN like in Genesis 18:16 and 19:1-2. There is NO indication of any WOMAN as ANGELS in the Bible as far as I know.

When angels appear to human beings their first words are usually: ‘Do not be afraid (read for instance Luke 1:13 & 30 and 2:10). From this fact we may assume that angels may at times have a terrifying appearance. Guarding angels is Biblical according to Psalm 91:11, Matthew 18:10 and Hebrews 1:14 and PROTECTION is one of their great ministries. Angels protected ISRAEL in the wilderness (Exodus 23:20 and Hebrews 14:22). Angels rescued Lot and his family from Sodom (Genesis 19:12-17) and they released Peter from prison (Acts 12:7) and executed judgement (2 Samuel 24:17). They also praise and worship God as we read in Psalm 148:2 and Revelation 5:11). In Luke 20:36 Yeshua declared that people will not marry after the RESSURECTION but will be like the ANGELS. It could be that this refers to the fact that we will be SPIRITUAL BEINGS serving God after the resurrection like ANGELS without human bodies like we have on earth.

Angels are also active throughout the NEW TESAMENT as SPECIAL MESSENGERS of God. The NEWS that Mary would give birth to the Messiah, the Savior of the world, was brought to her by the ANGEL GABRIEL (Luke 1:26-38). The New Testament also reveals that angels GUIDE, INSTRUCT and PROTECT God the Father’s people. And although we are mostly unaware of angels, they are STILL ACTIVE TODAY as they continue to fulfill their role as MESSENGERS of God and MINISTERS to His people. We also know there are FALLEN ANGELS who left their FIRST ESTATE (or DOMAIN/ original authority) according to Genesis 6:4, Matthew 25:41, 2 Peter 2;4, Jude 1:6 and Revelation 12:7-9. When Satan rebelled against God, he fell from heaven and with him one third of the angels who had joined his rebellion (read Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, and Revelation 12:7-9). Yeshua also referred to this as an eyewitness in Luke 10:18 saying: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”

So, WHAT do we know about EGYPT where Joseph, the husband of Mary and earthly father of Yeshua the Messiah, was instructed to flee to?

The history of EGYPT stretches back to about 3000 years before the birth of Yeshua our Messiah and at least 1000 years before the time of Abraham. According to the TABLE OF NATIONS in the BOOK of GENESIS, EGYPT was founded by Mizraim, one of the GRANDSONS of NOAH, through his SON HAM (read Genesis 10:6-14). In the Old Testament EGYPT is referred to in a SYMBOLIC way as MIZRAIM.

Soon after arriving in the LAND of CANAAN about 2000 years before the birth of Yeshua the Messiah, ABRAHAM migrated into EGYPT for a time to ESCAPE a FAMINE (Genesis 12:10). Still after JOSEPH was sold INTO SLAVERY in EGYPT by his brothers (Genesis 37:12-36), Joseph rose to a position of prominence in the cabinet of the EGYPTIAN PHAROAH (Genesis 41:37-46). This led Joseph’s family to MOVE to EGYPT and the HEBREW people were eventually ENSLAVED when Joseph died and a new line of Pharaoh’s rose to power (Exodus 1:6-14). During their formative years as a nation, the HEBREW people spend 430 years as SLAVES in EGYPT (Exodus 12:40) before they were released miraculously through God’s power under the leadership of Moses.

After the Exodus of the Hebrews from EGYPT, the once powerful Egyptian Empire declined in strength and influence, becoming a second-rate political power. During the time of King David and his son Solomon (about 1000 years Before Messiah Yeshua), EGYPT’s weakness and fragmentation contributed to the ESTABLISHMENT of ISRAEL as a STRONG NATION. During the Prophet Isaiah’s time, about 730 Before Messiah Yeshua, Isaiah warned the king of Judah about forming an alliance with EGYPT against the ASSYRIANS (Semitic people who originated from Babylon deriving their name from Asshur, the GRANDSON of NOAH and SON of SHEM according to Genesis 10:11 & 22), predicting that “trust” in the shadow of Egypt, shall be your humiliation (Isaiah 30:3).

The EGYPTIANS worshipped MANY gods – many the personification of NATURE, including the EARTH, SUN, MOON and SKY. ALL TEN of the PLAGUES God sent on the Egyptians destroyed one of the gods of Egypt proving the weakness of the entire Egyptian religious system (Genesis 12:12)

With PLAGUE 1: Water turned to Blood and with this YHVH the God of ISRAEL defeated the water bearing (small letter Egyptian) god of the Nile.

PLAGUE 2: Frogs coming from the Nile – defeated the frog headed goddess of fertility, water & renewal.

PLAGUE 3: Lice coming from the dust of the earth – defeating the (small letter) god over the dust of the earth.

PLAGUE 4: Flies with which YHVH defeated the fly headed (small letter Egyptian) god of creation, movement of the sun & rebirth.

PLAGUE 5: With the death of cattle and livestock – YHVH defeated the cow headed goddess of love and protection.

PLAGUE 6: With the Ashes turning to boils & sores – YHVH defeated the Egyptian goddess of medicine & peace.

PLAGUE 7: Hail raining down in the form of fire through which YHVH defeated the goddess of the sky.

PLAGUE 8: Locusts sent from the sky and thereby YHVH defeated the (small letter Egyptian) god of storms and disorder.

PLAGUE 9: Three days of complete darkness with which YHVH defeated the sun god, the most worshipped god, except for the Pharaoh; AND

PLAGUE 10: With the death of the firstborn – YHVH defeated the Pharaoh, the ultimate power in Egypt worshipped as the greatest (small letter) god in Egypt.

We also see the connection in Revelation chapters 15 -16 in terms of THE LAST EXODUS where YHVH the God of Israel will also use plagues against those who stand against Him during the TRIBULATION – Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians 15 as Yeshua the Messiah that will RULE until ALL OF GOD the Father’s enemies are destroyed of which DEATH is the LAST enemy after which He will also submit Himself to God the Father.

We read about the SEVEN ANGELS with the SEVEN PLAGUES, described as the SEVEN BOWLS of WRATH of God the Father in REVELAION 15 and 16 which is very similar to the PLAGUES in Exodus chapters 7-11 namely:

PLAGUE 1: Festering sores breaking out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image – reminding us of YHVH again defeating the Egyptian goddess of medicine & peace just like He did in plague 6 in the FIRST EXODUS

PLAGUE 2: The sea turning to blood and every living thing in the sea dying and

PLAGUE 3: The rivers and springs of water becoming blood for those to drink who have shed the blood of the holy people of God and His prophets reminding us of YHVH defeating the water bearing (small letter Egyptian) god of the Nile in plague 1 and His righteous judgement.

PLAGUE 4: The son will be allowed to scorch the people with fire. They will be seared with the intense heat, but they will still REFUSE to REPENT and to GLORIFY HIM.      Reminding us of the destruction of the fly headed (small letter Egyptian) god of creation, movement of the sun & rebirth during plague 4.

 PLAGUE 5: The throne of the beast and his kingdom will be plunged into darkness and people will gnaw their tongues in agony and they will curse the God of heaven because of their pains and sores and refuse to REPENT of what they have done.  This reminding us of YHVH defeating the small letter sun god, the most worshipped god, except for the Pharaoh (and in end times the beast kingdom) – FIRST EXODUS plague 9 & 10.

PLAGUE 6: The water in the great river Euphrates will dry up to prepare the WAY for the KINGS of the EAST. THREE IMPURE SPIRITS that look like FROGS will come out of the MOUTH of the DRAGON, the BEAST and the FALSE PROPHET – they are DEMONIC SIRITS that perform signs, and they go out to the KINGS of the WHOLE WORLD to gather them for the BATTLE on the GREAT DAY of GOD AMIGHTY. Yeshua the Messiah will come during THIS PERIOD – blessed is the one who remains AWAKE and OBEDIENT to Him. Then the WAR of ARMAGEDON – the DAY CALLED JUDGEMENT DAY will take place. Thus, reminding us of YHVH defeating the frog headed goddess of fertility, water & renewal and the cow headed goddess of (worldly unrighteous) love and protection (plague 2 & 5).

PLAGUE 7: Thereafter the final bowl will be poured out and a voice from the TEMPLE in HEAVEN will announce: “It is done!” A severe earthquake will take place among flashes of lightning, peals of thunder and the city of JERUALEM will split into three parts and the CITIES of the NATIONS will COLLAPSE. Huge hailstones, each weighing about a 100 pounds (therefore approximately 45kg, some Bible versions says 34kg), will fall on the people of Babylon and they will curse God on account of the TERRIBLE HAIL PLAGUE  Reminding us of the hail raining down in the form of fire in the FIRST EXODUS through which YHVH defeated the goddess of the sky and the (small letter) god as well as destroying the small letter god over the dust of the earth and the (small letter) god of storms and disorder (plague 3, 7 & 8).

During the FIRST EXODUS God’s people sang a SONG OF DELIVERANCE, praising Him for His faithfulness in leading them out of EGYPT (read Exodus 15:1-21) and now in the SECOND EXODUS, God’s people will sing a song of HIS FAITHFULL DELIVERANCE, this time not only the SONG OF God’s servant MOSES but the VICTORIOUS SONG of the LAMB of God, Yeshua the Messiah who delivered believers once and for all from the bondage of sin and death (read Revelation 15:1-8)

And in Matthew 2:14-15 we read: “So he (Joseph) got up, took the Child and His mother, and left during the NIGHT for EGYPT, where he stayed until Herod died. This happened in order to fulfill what YHVH has said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” This is a reference to Hosea 11:1 namely: “When ISRAEL was a CHILD, I LOVED HIM; and OUT OF EGYPT I called My Son.”

The Jewish Study Bible explains: Matthew is giving here a HINT of a LARGER PERSPECTIVE. ISRAEL is called GOD’s SON in Exodus 4:22 and in Matthew 1:18-25 the Messiah is presented as GOD’s SON, reflecting OLD TESTAMENT passages like Isaiah 9:5-6, Psalm 2:7 and Proverbs 30:4. The YESHUA the MESSIAH the SON of YHVH the FATHER is therefore ONE with the NATION of ISRAEL and that is what Matthew hints at by calling Yeshua’s FLIGHT to EGYPT the fulfillment of Hosea 11:1. Matthew also reveals that YESHUA embodies ISRAEL in a profound way – His coming FROM Egypt reenacts in a spiritually significant way THE EXODUS of ISRAEL.  Yeshua the Messiah, is a BIGGER PROPHET than Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15, John 1:17 and Hebrews 3:1-6) who will lead all fallen people out of the bondage and slavery of SPIRITUAL EGYPT and SIN and DEATH. But it still REMIANS each one of us own choice whether we want to choose Him and follow Him.