Given this year's catalogue of disasters (Queensland floods, Japan earthquake etc), it can be hard to trust that God is sovereign, that God is all-knowing and all-powerful and in full control.
By just looking at the events, we can come up with all sorts of interpretations - are they God's punishment for man's sin? Is the world coming to an end? Or are they just random events?
We need to turn to God's word.
1. Out of Egypt
- Another dream
Recapping Matthew 1:1-2:12, Matthew begins his gospel account by writing about the geneology of Jesus Christ, showing that Jesus is the Christ King, descendant of both the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), Judah and David, of whom the Messiah / Christ / King of Israel was prophesied to come from. He was to save people from their sins, as the angel showed Joseph in his first dream. In the second dream, Joseph and Mary were warned not to return to Herod.
Matthew 2:13-15 describes the third dream. The main point of the dream is for the safety and protection of the baby Christ. Joseph and Mary were to bring Jesus to Egypt and remain there till it was safe to return to Israel. Matthew concludes that this is to fulfill the prophecy "Out of Egypt, I called my son".
- Hosea 11:1
"Out of Egypt, I called my son"
This is a direct quotation of Hosea 11:1. In Hosea 11, God looks back at the foundation of the nation of Israel. They were oppressed slaves in Egypt, but God brought them out of Egypt with His mighty right hand, with wonders and miracles.
But when Hosea spoke the prophecy, it was a rebuke to Israel. Despite God calling Israel His son, growing Israel, teaching Israel how to walk and taking them in His arms, Israel rejected God time and time again
- Matthew and Prophecy
So what is "Out of Egypt, I called my son" doing in Matthew 2:15? Is Matthew cherry-picking? And why does he quote only verse 1 and not verse 2 of Hosea chapter 1?
Matthew is an inspired author of God's word.
We want precision. But Matthew shows us prophetic fulfilment is more varied than we think.
- I called my Son
Hosea 11:1 is not the only place God calls Israel His son. In Exodus 4:22-23, God also refers to the whole nation of Israel as His son. Hosea recognises this.
But Matthew is now narrowing 'son' to one man - Jesus.
Jesus is the new Israel, God's son.
Jesus is the new Israel.
Jesus sums up the whole nation of Israel in Himself.
Jesus is the true Israel.
Israel was a disobedient son, but Jesus is the obedient son.
2. Rachel Weeping
- Herod's cruelty
Matthew 2:16 describes utter carnage. The loss of 1 child is already a terrible tragedy, let alone thousands and thousands of children over a few days. In Matthew 2:17-18, Matthew says this fulfills what was prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah.
- Jeremiah 31
Rachel is Jacob's 2nd wife. Jacob is one of Israel's Patriarchs as mentioned earlier. Rachel is thus one of the mothers of Israel. She was dead and buried in 1500BC. Why does she 'cry' around 600BC (Jeremiah's time)? It is because during that period Israel was conquered by foreign powers and the people carried off into exile.
However, the whole chapter is about hope (Jeremiah 31:13-17). God will bring the people back from exile.
- The end of exile?
Not only is there a physical return, God promises in Jeremiah 31:31-34 that there will be a new covenant, a 'spiritual return'. God's law will be written on the hearts of the people. God will forgive sin and iniquity.
3. He shall be called a Nazarene
- Another dream, another dream
Matthew 2:19-23 describe 2 final dreams that Joseph has. God is sovereignly guiding the child's life. Matthew again concludes that Jesus living in Nazareth is to fulfill what was spoken by the prophets "He shall be called a Nazarene".
- Old Testament verse?
But this verse cannot be found in the Old Testament. So why is Matthew quoting a Old Testament prophecy that doesn't exist?
- A Nazarene Christ
The clue is found in verse 23 - 'Prophets'. It is a summary of what prophets in the past have said.
Bethlehem is like the Adelaide of Israel, aka most remote town. And only nobodies came from Galilee (the region). Yet even the Galileans would say, "at least we aren't Nazarenes!" During that time, the Nazarenes were the most despised in all of Israel. Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, among other parts of the Old Testament, prophesy that the Christ would be despised. The despised one would bring salvation for many.
4. Putting it all together
- God controls history
These passages show that God is protecting His Son, guiding and directing Christ's every movement to safety. God is in absolute control of everything that goes on!
This does not mean there would be no pain and suffering in this world. All the pain and suffering occurs because of our sin. In God's sovereignty, He did not stop the killing of babies.
Yet God hates death and suffering. He has done something about it. He has sent Jesus to save us from our sins. He will set a day when he will end death and suffering once and for all.
This does not mean there would be no pain and suffering in this world. All the pain and suffering occurs because of our sin. In God's sovereignty, He did not stop the killing of babies.
Yet God hates death and suffering. He has done something about it. He has sent Jesus to save us from our sins. He will set a day when he will end death and suffering once and for all.
- Trust God's Word about history
What should we do in the meantime? We must trust in God! We must trust in His Word! His Word tells us why God broke into history - to save us from our sins.