Prophecies about Jesus: called out of Egypt

Let’s look at another pattern prophecy about Jesus. This is called a “type” or a “typology” where a pattern of events in the Old Testament is repeated in the New Testament. The fulfilment is a similar but greater pattern of events.

After the magi (wise men) visited Jesus, Matthew said, “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son” (Mt. 2:13-15NIV).

This is a quote from the Old Testament, “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images” (Hos. 11:1-2).

Hosea recalls the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. God used a metaphor to describe Israel as His son. This image is also used in the book of Exodus, “Israel is my firstborn son” (Ex. 4:2). And in the New Testament Jesus is the unique Son of God. The Children of Israel in the Old Testament and Jesus in the New Testament had both gone from Palestine to Egypt for their safety. They were both refugees. And when it was safe to do so, they both returned to Palestine. This part of their history is similar. This is another “type” or a “typology”. But afterwards Israel was an unfaithful son as they worshipped idols, like Baals and images, whereas Jesus was faithful in obeying God the Father.

Prayer

Father God, we thank you for protecting Jesus while He was a refugee in Egypt. Please help us to follow Him faithfully  and not be distracted by the idols of this world. Amen.

Written, December 2024

Also see: Patterns of Jesus Christ hidden in the Old Testament