Joseph told to return to Israel with Jesus (Matthew 2:19-22)

So Herod killed the children to satisfy his own lust for significance and power. Once again God had predicted that this would happen. This event was the completed fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15.

The prophecy in Jer. 31:15 was partially fulfilled when King Nebuchadnezzar forcefully deported many Jews from Palestine to Babylon. The final and complete fulfillment of the prophecy occurred here when King Herod murdered the children under two years of age. Unknowingly, King Herod fulfilled God's prophecy. The wicked man proved that God tells the truth.

Return To Nazareth. King Herod died in 1 B.C. and sometime after his death the angel of the Lord visited Joseph one more time and said, "Get up!"

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead." So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. (NASB) Matt. 2:19-21

"Get up! and take the child to the land of Palestine." That was God’s will. Once again Joseph was faithful to do God’s will. But when he arrived in Palestine, he became afraid.

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there . . . (NASB) Matt. 2:22

He was afraid because Archelaus was ruling over Judea. Archelaus was so evil that he made King Herod look like a good guy. Ancient historians tell us that he had a reputation for being very brutal. He was also an incompetent ruler and consequently Rome eventually removed him in A.D. 6. Therefore, it is possible that an angel of the Lord could have waited until sometime near A.D. 6 before he told Joseph to "Get up!" Jesus could have been as old as eight years of age.

Joseph had to go through the region - Judea - over which Archelaus was ruling before he could reach God's appointed final destination. So when Joseph heard that Archelaus was in power, he became afraid. Would Joseph have left Egypt if the angel of the Lord had told him that Archelaus was ruling over Judea? We will never know the answer, but it is a great lesson for us. Sometimes we are afraid to do God's will when we sense danger.

Joseph might have stayed in Egypt if God had told him about Archelaus. So apparently God decided not to tell him about Archelaus. As with Joseph and Mary, God does not always tell us what lies ahead for us. He wants us to trust Him and to walk through the shadow of death with Him - holding His hand. His will is His will. He wants us to follow whether it is fearful or joyful. He has a purpose that He wants us to accomplish.