Escape and Slaughter: Matthew 2:13-23

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."

Another dream. Another urgent command. The Magi had barely disappeared over the horizon when Joseph received his warning: Run. Now. Tonight.

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt.

During the night. No time for goodbyes, no time to sell the house or pack properly. Joseph gathered his family in darkness and fled—south toward the border, toward the ancient land where Israel had once been slaves, now become refuge.