Leaving Bethlehem: Fight and Flight

Matthew 2:13-18

God created humans with a "fight or flight" response. While most people walk around with a false sense of bravado and talk about what they would do in a dangerous situation, the reality is that most people do two of the three possible responses. They either run away (flight) or they freeze like a deer in headlights. Most people need training to learn the fight response because it requires you to stay focused and present in the danger. Experts will tell you, if it is possible, the flight response is the best response.

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Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Herod Kills the Children then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Matthew 2:13-18

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In this part of the Christmas story, we have both the fight and the flight. In Jerusalem, Herod was giving orders to fight for his throne. Five miles away in Bethlehem, Joseph was receiving orders to run away to Egypt. This flight was for the protection of God's Son.

Herod was not a good man. He tried to come across as such. He was married to a Jewess and was a nominal Jew in religious practice. However, by birth he was Ideumean or from Edom. During his time as King over the region that included Jerusalem, he would kill his wife and her children. This would officially bring to and end the Hasmonean dynasty in Israel. This was the family that had reigned over Israel following the Maccabean revolt. Since Herod viewed all of them as a threat to his power, they had to go.

If a man will kill his wife and children he had by her, why would he have a problem killing a baby, or babies, that were not related to him? If there was truly a new king born to reign over Israel, that would mean his power was coming to an end. He could not have this! Herod wanted a fight. So, he sent soldiers to kill all the boy babies born in Bethlehem from 2 years old and under. Historians question if this actually happened. I will simply say when they catch up, the Bible will once again be proven accurate.

As Herod was giving his orders, Joseph was also receiving orders from an Angel. He was told to go to Egypt until he received further orders. There was a twofold reason for this. One was to protect the child. Second, it was to fulfill the prophecy that God's Son would come out of Egypt. The Jews thought this was speaking of them, but in reality God was talking about the Messiah. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus took their flight away from the danger.

As Christians, we need to be like Joseph. He did what God told him to do. We do not read about him trying to strut around and flex his muscles. We read that he obeyed God. These orders were not just about protecting Jesus. God could have made Joseph like Samson if that was all that was needed. God had a plan that needed to be carried out. As Christians, we need to be willing to do what God tells us for the sake of His plan. It will always be what's best for everyone involved.

Father, I thank you for this story. Many of us want to obey you, but we want to do it by our own logic and thinking. Help us to be obedient like Joseph. Even if we do not understand, may we obey. Help us to trust that you know what is best and you are leading us to accomplish what is best.