After Herod died, 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 to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Matthew 2:19-23 NIV
Returning to Nazareth
In the first months of the pandemic, there was much discussion about a surge of Canadians who moved in pursuit of affordable housing or more space. Now, newly released census data paints a clear picture of just how many moved in — and out — of cities across the country and how many fled each province. Back in 2022, Statistics Canada showed close to 89,000 people moved away from Ontario to all corners of the country between 2020 and 2021. Data shows 21,000 went west to British Columbia, while close to another 19,000 set their sights east to Quebec.
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Following the death of Herod, Jesus and his parents moved from Egypt back to their home in Israel. I can’t imagine how it must have felt for this family to settle once again in their home nation. Matthew 2:19-23 describes it this way: “After Herod died, 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 to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.’ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.” God had it all arranged. He has your life arranged too – be like Joseph – follow the will of God for you, no matter where He takes you.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley