1. Jesus’ Flight to Egypt
Lesson 1.5

2. Today’s Place in the Story
Israel was the seed-nation that was supposed to kill the serpent; instead they turned to idolatry and didn’t keep God’s Law.
God sent them into exile; eventually they returned to their land, but they turned God’s word into a morality code that excluded the Gentiles.
Jesus came as a New Israel to invite all men (Jew and Gentile) to be children of God.

3. The Wise Men’s Visit
“Who” the Wise Men were is not the important point to understand; the fact that they were Gentiles is what matters!
This shows us that the Messiah came to redeem ALL mankind.
Jesus was good news to the Gentiles, but not to Herod.
Herod was given the title “King of the Jews” and he didn’t want to lose it! (Matt. 2:2)

4. Herod’s Evil Plan
Herod pretended he wanted to worship Jesus, so he sent the Wise Men out to find the baby.
Nobody would have helped Herod find Jesus. Why?
Really he just wanted to kill the Messiah so he could remain King.
After they saw Jesus, an angel warned the Wise Men not to return to Herod, so they avoided him and went home by another route.

5. The New Exodus
After Herod learned that the Wise Men tricked him, he ordered all
boys 2 years and under to be killed
in and around Bethlehem.
Herod was the “new Pharaoh of Egypt.”
Both men ordered a genocide of Hebrew children (Ex. 1:22)
Joseph took his family to Egypt to escape this “new Pharaoh.”
Matthew tells us this was to fulfill the prophecy of Hosea 11:1- “Out of Israel I called my son.”

6. The New Exodus
After Herod died, an angel told Joseph to return to Israel because “those who sought the young child’s life are dead.” (Matt. 2:20; Ex. 4:19)
Jesus is the new Moses going back to free the Israelites.
Jesus also fulfilled Israel’s history by leaving Egypt and being baptized in the Jordan River just like Israel was “baptized” in the Red Sea.
Jesus then fulfills Israel’s next step by being tested in the wilderness for 40 days, just like Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.