Out of Egypt - Pastor Bradley Peters
Tracing Matthew 2 through the long arc of Scripture, the focus lands on the line “Out of Egypt I called my son” as the key that unlocks how Jesus fulfills Israel’s story in a way no one before Him could. The narrative threads begin with the patriarchs and a buried hope: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob anchored their futures in the promised land, while Joseph—the beloved son who descended into slavery and prison, then was exalted—foreshadowed a pattern of humiliation leading to glory. Egypt, the place of Joseph’s exaltation and Israel’s later bondage, becomes both sanctuary and threat. In the Exodus, God redeemed His firstborn people, marked their doors with blood, and inaugurated a story where every firstborn belonged to Him—a pattern that finds its completion in Christ, the true Firstborn who redeems all.
The history of kings exposes human failure: Solomon’s catastrophic disobedience, Jeroboam’s counterfeit promises and idolatry, and Herod’s murderous jealousy echo Pharaoh’s hardness. Yet where Jeroboam also “came up from Egypt” and led Israel astray, Jesus retraces the path without compromise—conceived by the Spirit, protected by divine direction, and obedient in every step. The Magi’s worship, Joseph’s sleepless obedience, and the night flight to Egypt showcase providence moving quietly and decisively. Matthew’s citations—Hosea 11, Jeremiah 31—are not trivia; they reframe loss within a larger hope. Rachel’s weeping names real grief; God’s answer is not denial but the advent of a Son who will carry that grief to its end on a cross and rise to reign.
The return to Nazareth signals more than geography; it announces the faithful Son who will succeed where Israel, Solomon, and Jeroboam failed. Psalm 2 crowns this vision: the Son is enthroned; the nations are His; refuge is offered to all who bow. This is not merely a beautiful story but a living claim: those once at war with God can be brought out of Egypt—out of bondage, idolatry, and self-rule—by union with the true King. Such news is treasure to be shared, not buried. Shared joy deepens joy. As one year closes and another opens, the call is clear: trust the Son, follow His lead, and make known the rescue He has accomplished.