February 1, 2026

Jesus escapes to Egypt

Gospel of Matthew 2:13–14

When they were 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...

Dear Readers,

today's stamp shows King Tutankhamun, who ruled Egypt from 1332 to 1323 BC. Egypt and the history of God's salvation of his people are closely linked together. Abram and his wife Sarai moved to Egypt because there was a famine in their homeland (Genesis 12:10 f). Moses was called by God on Mount Horeb to lead his people out of slavery from Egypt to freedom (Exodus 3).

Now Joseph is also called to go to Egypt with Mary and the child. The angel of the Lord gives Joseph instructions in a dream to do so. The reason: there is a grave danger to the life of the child Jesus. The wise men from the East had not told the tyrant Herod where he would find the child. This made Herod so angry that he wanted to kill all the infants in Bethlehem and the surrounding area, and he did so. How terribly cruel! Darkness wanted to destroy Jesus, the light of the world. Herod was an „Instrument oft he  Darkness“.

God allows this child murderer free rein. That frightens me; it creates pain in me. It is this painful experience until this day that God allows inhuman tyranny and often does not prevent evil. God knew what Herod was planning. He saw into the evil´s heart of this murderer. God knew his diabolical plans.

God still sees the great suffering that many people are exposed to today. Many Christians wonder when God will intervene to put an end to the worldwide suffering of his creation. Many people long for a world of justice and peace, a world without terror and without wars.

Jesus was spared from the grasp of darkness at that time. He found refuge in Egypt. But on the cross of Golgotha, outside the gates of Jerusalem, the Father did not spare His Son (Romans 8:32 f). Jesus, the Prince of Peace, had to die an atoning death to redeem us once and for all from the power of sin and death. His resurrection brings new, eternal life. It begins here and now.

Joseph did what God asked him to do. He had probably imagined his life differently. I don't think he ever planned to move to Egypt. But he obeyed God without hesitation and thus became a blessing to all of us. We Christians should act just as Joseph did: listen to God's word and obey it. We should be ready to walk new paths of faith with the Lord Jesus Christ and praise God, our Father in heaven, for his care, with which he guides us safely even in difficult times.

Therefore, I invite you today to praise God and join in the praise of the Apostle Paul (Romans 8:38–39):

 „For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“ 

Thank you very much for visiting me and listening to me. I look forward to meet you again at the next short sermon on February 15. Then we will talk about the return from Egypt. May God bless you and protect you in spirit, soul, and body. May He lead you safely through this time.