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Matthew 2:14-15
The LORD God has spoken to Joseph in a dream through an angel (Matthew 2:13). When Joseph awoke, he acted on the inspiration that the angel of the Lord had given him. He did not wait for a while and discuss things with Mary to see if they indeed believed in the LORD God and that it was truly He who sent the angel in the dream. But he and his wife Mary were confident in the LORD God and His guidance for them as they have been first-hand witnesses to the power of God in the birth of Jesus, the Son that they did not create themselves through the normal ways of conception, but have been instructed in previous dreams that this Child was from God and was to be the Savior of the world (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38).
Through the obedience of Joseph and Mary, God would fulfill through them a prophecy concerning that which He has declared through the prophet Hosea, which is reiterated in Matthew 2:15 and states, “Out of Egypt I called My Son” [Hosea 11:1 (NKJV)].
This is having true obedience to God through our faith in Him.
This is a step in God’s great plan of salvation in connecting the Law to its fulfillment in Christ Jesus.
We may look at this passage and prophecy and ask ourselves, “Okay, so what is so relevant of the prophecy in Hosea 11:1 of “Out of Egypt I called My Son”? But if we look back to the Old Testament Scriptures as God called His chosen people out of Egypt in the book of Exodus, we will see that God saved His chosen people from their captives and led them into the Promised Land; His only plea to them was that they put Him first in their lives, worshiping no other gods, and that they love their neighbor as themselves (Deuteronomy 5-6). We also know that the Law of the Old Testament, before it was given to Moses, was given instructions that it would be one Law for all who put their faith in God. At the inception of the Passover in Exodus 12, God gives Moses this instruction in Exodus 12:49 (NKJV), “One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.” Jesus Himself, after He has grown into adulthood and begun His earthly physical ministry reiterates this in His reply to the Pharisees of their question to Him of, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law (Matthew 22:35)? His response is noted in Matthew 22:37-40, “” ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Dear LORD,
As we study Your word in its entirety we learn of Your great plan of salvation for all humanity; it begins in Genesis and through our faith in You which involves our faith in our Savior Christ Jesus, it never ends. For if we will sincerely believe in You and Your great plan of salvation for each of us and confess Jesus our Lord and Savior, You are faithful and just and will fulfill Your great plan of salvation in each of our lives – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.