JESUS AS A REFUGEE

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.” —Matthew 2:13

We can easily imagine the fear that would have gripped Joseph and Mary as they gathered up a few belongings in the early morning darkness, quickly packed some food, and dressed the sleepy young Jesus in clothes for traveling. Long before daybreak, they left Bethlehem and were on the road south toward Egypt, traveling as fast as they could and as far as their strength would carry them. They could only imagine the horror taking place in Bethlehem behind them (see Matthew 2:16–18), but their fear drove them onward, alert to any sound of galloping horses warning them that Herod’s soldiers might be broadening their search.

Sadly, this is a scenario that has played out countless times in the history of our world. Today, tens of millions of people are displaced from their homes by fears of violence, hunger, exploitation, and persecution. Driven by these fearful realities, they risk the dangers of travel, exploitation, uncertainty as to where they might be heading, and the likelihood that they will not be welcomed when they get there—all in the hope of the relative safety of a foreign nation. In Jesus, God identified with and experienced this fear.

For those seeking refuge, this is a remarkable comfort.

God has seen, heard, and felt such fears—after all, He experienced such a journey with His earthly family, living as foreigners in the land of Egypt, probably for a couple of years. For those today who might welcome refuge-seekers, the identification of Jesus with those who run in fear for their lives should challenge us to respond. In serving them, we might be most truly serving Him.