We're Going Home to Nazareth!!

By Mary Vee
Matthew 2
Luke 2

From Matthew's Notes

My name is Joseph. My wife, Mary, and I are living in Egypt. This is not our native country, and I don't expect to live here much longer. Still, while we live here I have worked as a carpenter to feed my family. Little Jesus is learning the trade rather quickly. He is such a help.

We came to Egypt one night when I had an unexpected dream. Mary and I were still in Bethlehem. Some wise men from the east stopped in with the most incredible story. They spent the day with us. That same night, an angel spoke to me. The angel said Herod wanted to harm us and we should leave for Egypt right away. 

I woke Mary. She believed me and hurried to pack our few belongings. We left the city before sunrise.

The angel also told me we should stay in Egypt until we heard news again. I didn't know how long that would be, so we set up a home here and raised Jesus as a young one.

I went to bed one night and was surprised to see an angel in my dream. I mean, I knew one day the angel would speak to me again, I just didn't know when. The angel said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."

I woke after the dream and remembered all the angel said. "Mary." I shook her arm. "Mary wake up."

She rubbed her eyes. "Yes, Joseph?"

"The angel spoke to me tonight. We can go back home. Pack. We'll leave for Nazareth first thing in the morning."

Her eyes brightened. "We're going home?"

"The angel said the people who wanted to kill Jesus are dead. We're safe." I had to admit I was really happy to go home, too. Life in Egypt wasn't bad. It just wasn't home, or near family.

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"That's wonderful news, Joseph. I'll start right away."

We had gathered a few more belongings than when we had come. My tools. Her pots. We also packed food for the trip home, bread, dates, and water.

We loaded up our cart and hooked it to the donkey the next morning. The sun was in our eyes, but we didn't care. We were going home.




Come back for the next story.

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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary

* Jewish History.org
*Jewish Virtual Library.org

My research in Israel.