Year of the Bible: Part Eight of TwelveSample

Jesus, the Third-Culture Refugee

In this account, Matthew records God's message to Joseph about fleeing to Egypt to escape Herod's paranoia. Herod was king in 43 BC, and historians tell us his death occurred approximately 4 BC. According to the timeline of events, Jesus would have been around two years old when they left Israel and about 6-10 years old when they returned.

Jesus' family became immigrants in Egypt, and he became a sojourner and refugee, fleeing his native nation for safety reasons and trying to avoid premature death. Jesus could be considered a "third-culture kid": someone raised in a culture different from his parents or country of nationality. He also lived in a different environment during a significant part of his childhood development.

God chose to take Jesus to Egypt, a place of fear and trauma for Israel, to keep Jesus safe during his early years. Egypt had a long history with the Jews. It was there that God provided for Joseph and the rest of Israel during a famine; however, it was also a place of over 400 years of slavery, and where the Exodus story happened.

The Apostle Paul tells us Jesus came to reconcile all things to himself (Colossians 1:20). As a child, Egypt became a place of refuge for Jesus instead of a place of fear. Jesus' story relates to those who understand being stripped of your national identity and becoming a minority in the context of a different nationality. Jesus not only left his heavenly home, but he also understood leaving an earthly home and becoming all things to all people.

Question: How do you think God's kingdom culture differs from how you currently live?

Prayer focus: Ask God what kingdom values He wants you to embrace as you pursue His ministry of reconciliation.