The Refugee

International attention of late has been focused on the growing refugee crisis in various parts of the world. People who have been forced to flee from their homes and their native lands; seek a place of refuge. To remain in their homes could mean death or severe persecution.

It is a touching sight on TV watching thousands of people fleeing from war torn areas. So many people trying to get to safe havens in Europe are causing an international crisis. Even though it is now winter in the Northern Hemisphere, yet, there are those willing to risk the wintry conditions to reach their goal. Sadly some of those who try to reach Europe in unstable, overcrowded boats perish on the way; some drowning in sight of land.

Did you know that Jesus Christ of Nazareth, God's Son understands the plight of the refugee? How does He know? It is because He was once a refugee Himself!

As a little toddler He was forced to flee from Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph. Let's look into the Holy Scriptures for the record of this event. It takes place after the wise men had come to the house and worshipped the young Child Jesus. As we will see it was imperative that Jesus had to flee.

Matthew 2:11-14:

"(11) And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

(12)Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

(13) Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."

(14) When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,

(15) and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." (Hosea 11:1 about BC 740).

King Herod [Herod the Great, appointed by the Romans] sought the young Child's life and was determined to kill Him. When Herod realised that the wise men had deceived him; in a murderous rage he ordered his soldiers to kill all the male children two years old and under in the Bethlehem area.

Matthew 2:16-18:

"(16)Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

(17)Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

(18) "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more." (Jeremiah 31:15 about BC 606).

Herod the Great was a brutal man who even had some of his own family murdered.

Meanwhile, Joseph took Jesus and His mother Mary down to Egypt for safety. Joseph being a skilled carpenter would have been able to obtain work in Egypt to sustain his family, whilst they were refugees in Egypt. The news about the massacre of the children around the Bethlehem area would have reached Egypt at some stage. Joseph would have been reassured that he had done the right thing in obeying the angel's words to him in the dream.

Matthew 2:19-23:

"(19) But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,

(20) saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead."

(21) Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

(22) But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.

(23) And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

From secular history it appears that Herod the Great apparently died within a couple of years of the massacre. Archelaus it seems was even more brutal than his father and was incompetent. The Romans relieved him of his position as Ruler a couple of years into his reign.

Joseph was afraid to go to Bethlehem because of Archelaus and instead went back to Nazareth in Galilee where Archelaus did not have any authority. This is where Jesus grew up and why Jesus is called Jesus of Nazareth. Nazareth was not well thought of and it was despised by many Jews.

John 1:43-46:

"(43) The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me."

(44) Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

(45) Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote--Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."
(46) And Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

As the foregoing Scriptures reveal Jesus was born and spent a little time in Bethlehem; before fleeing as a refugee to Egypt because Herod the Great sought to kill Him. This meant a journey from Bethlehem to Egypt and later another journey from Egypt to Nazareth in Galilee. Even on the return trip Jesus was still a refugee as Joseph was afraid to return to Bethlehem because of Archelaus.

So Jesus does understand the plight of the refugee! He does understand the concern of fleeing for your life's sake. He has provided an eternal refuge in Heaven for all who will trust in Him and receive Him as their Lord and Saviour. You can have your sins forgiven, peace with God and a home in Heaven. 

Deuteronomy 33:27:

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms..."

1 Peter 5:7:

"Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

Matthew 11:28-30:

"(28) Come to Me [Jesus], all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(29) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
(30) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Jesus the One who was once a refugee knows how to comfort the refugee, not only with comfort in this scene but throughout eternity!

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]