And having been warned
in a dream not to
go back to Herod, they
returned to their
country by another
route.
Matthew 2:12
God's angel messengers were not quite finished with their assignments for the wondrous event of God's Son come to earth. After the Magi found Joseph and Mary and had the opportunity to see and worship the baby Messiah, they took their rest before venturing back to their homeland. In a dream, they are warned not to return to Herod, for his overture of peace toward the newborn king was just smoke and mirrors. When they headed for home the next day, they took a circuitous route that did not travel near Jerusalem.
The angel then appeared to Joseph in his second nightly visitation, this time with a heavenly command: Get up, 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.
As the Magi slowly wended their way home, Mary and Joseph fled under the cover of darkness and made their way to Egypt. They would live there for an unspecified amount of time until Herod was dead and the danger was over. The wonderful gifts of the Magi would provide for their travel and family needs in that strange new home.
*
And by the light of
that same star,
Three wise men came
from country far;
To seek for a king was
their intent,
And to follow the star
wherever it went.
Noel, noel, noel, noel,
Born is the King of
Israel.
The United Methodist
Hymnal, No. 245
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