The Escape to Egypt
Matthew 2:13-23
Ilumi Kids · Stories
After the wise men left, Joseph had a dream. An angel of the Lord appeared and gave him an urgent warning:
"Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."
After the wise men's visit, an angel warned Joseph in a dream that Herod wanted to kill the child and told him to flee to Egypt. Joseph got up at night and left with Mary and Jesus. Herod, furious, gave a cruel order against the boys of Bethlehem, but the family was already safe. When Herod died, the angel told Joseph they could return, and the family went to live in Nazareth, in Galilee.
Where it is in the Bible: Matthew 2:13-23
God protects and guides our families step by step; Joseph teaches us to listen and obey right away.
After reading, use these questions to help your child remember and apply the story.
After the wise men left, Joseph had a dream. An angel of the Lord appeared and gave him an urgent warning:
The angel to Joseph: Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
Joseph didn't wait for morning! He got up while it was still night, took Mary and the child Jesus, and set out for Egypt.
It was a long journey through the desert. But Joseph trusted God and obeyed right away.
"He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt." — Matthew 2:14
King Herod was furious when he realized the wise men would not come back to tell him where the child was. He gave a cruel order against the little boys of Bethlehem.
But God had already protected Jesus. The family stayed safe in Egypt, and so what a prophet had said long before came true:
"Out of Egypt I called my son." — Matthew 2:15
When Herod died, the angel appeared to Joseph again in a dream and said they could go back to the land of Israel.
Warned by God in another dream, Joseph took the family to Galilee and went to live in a town called Nazareth. That is where Jesus grew up.
God guided Joseph step by step. And every time, Joseph listened and obeyed. God also takes care of our families and shows us the way!
"He came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will be called a Nazarene." — Matthew 2:23
