Matthew, chapter 2
19When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20and said,f “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.”* 21He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod,* he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee. 23* g He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazorean.”
Day 4 Questions
10. What deeper significance would Matthew’s Jewish audience find in the flight of the holy family into Egypt (2:13-15 and their return to Israel (2:19-21)? (See Gen 46:1-7; 50:22-26; Exod 1:6-14; 3:7-10: Num 23:22; Hos 11:1)
11. What impresses you most about Joseph (2:13-14)? (See 1:19-25; 2:21-22; Luke 2:41-51)
12a. What are some of the things Joseph had to sacrifice or overcome to be obedient to the Lord (2:13-14)?
12b. When has your own obedience been challenged and how did you respond?