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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 3 of 5
Matthew 2:7-23
After a long journey, foretold in Psalms 72:10, the wise men have been led by the star to the place where the young child was. A matter of great joy for them! They meet Him, present their homage and their gifts, and return by "another way." Is not this the story of every one who comes to the Saviour?
The murderous intentions of Herod are frustrated, as at the same time are those of Satan who was seeking from the moment of Christ’s coming into the world to destroy the One who will ultimately be his conqueror. The journey into Egypt, ordered by God to save the infant Child from these criminal plans, illustrates also the grace of the One who wanted to follow the same path as His people in former times.
Two names were given to the Child in the preceding chapter:that of Jesus (Saviour-God: Matthew 1:21), so precious to the heart of every believer;then His name Emmanuel (God with us: Matthew 1:23).To these is now added that of "Nazarene" (v. 23), with a threefold meaning:the Lord Jesus was morally separated and consecrated to God according to Numbers 6:1-27.He was also a new Branch, out of the stem of Jesse (the father of David) bearing fruit (see Isaiah 11:1 and Day by Day comment).Finally He was for thirty years an unknown citizen of the despised town of Nazareth (John 1:46).
