Day 13 of 365 · Birth & Hidden Years
Matthew 2:13-18
Scripture · KJV
when were the of the to a and the young be the young to
he he the young by
the of it might be was the the Out have I
when he he was the wise was sent and the that were the two years to the he had diligently the wise
was that was the
was a for be they
In this passage, the infant Jesus embodies patience not through His own conscious actions, but through His complete surrender to divine timing and providence during a period of profound vulnerability. When "the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream" commanding the family to "flee into Egypt," Jesus enters a season of waiting that would stretch until "the death of Herod."
This divine patience—makrothymia—is demonstrated through Jesus's willingness to endure displacement and exile rather than confronting evil through force. Though He possessed all power, the Christ child submitted to a refugee's journey, becoming dependent on foreign hospitality. The phrase "and was there until the death of Herod" captures the essence of patient endurance—remaining in an uncomfortable, uncertain situation until God's timing made change possible.
The cultural context deepens this lesson. Egypt, once the place of Israel's bondage, now becomes a sanctuary. For a Jewish family, seeking refuge among former oppressors required tremendous trust in God's protection. Jesus's patience here mirrors Israel's wilderness wandering—a necessary season of waiting before entering into fullness of purpose. Unlike Herod, whose impatience led him to murderous rage when he "saw that he was mocked of the wise men," Jesus embodies the long-suffering that trusts divine timing over human urgency.
Even the tragic backdrop of Herod's massacre reveals patience's wisdom. The "lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning" in Bethlehem shows what happens when evil acts in haste, while Jesus's quiet exile demonstrates how patience can preserve life and purpose for future fulfillment.
Practice strategic withdrawal. When facing overwhelming opposition or hostile environments, Jesus's example teaches us that retreat can be wisdom, not weakness. This might mean leaving a toxic workplace before securing another position, removing yourself from an abusive relationship despite uncertainty about the future, or taking a sabbatical when ministry or career pressures threaten your spiritual health. The key is distinguishing between cowardly avoidance and patient positioning for God's next move.
Embrace seasons of hiddenness. Jesus spent years in Egyptian obscurity before His public ministry. Similarly, we must learn to value seasons when our gifts aren't publicly recognized or our calling seems delayed. This could mean faithfully serving in roles that feel beneath your abilities, developing skills during unemployment, or maintaining spiritual disciplines when prayer feels unanswered. Use hidden seasons for deep formation rather than restless striving for visibility.
Trust God's timing despite injustice. While innocent children died, Jesus waited safely in exile—a stark reminder that God's protection doesn't always extend to everyone simultaneously, and His timeline may seem agonizingly slow. When you witness injustice or experience unfair treatment, resist the urge to force immediate resolution through manipulation or revenge. Instead, focus on faithful obedience to your current calling while trusting God to address wrongs in His perfect timing.
The virtue of patient endurance in the face of adversity and the wisdom of strategic retreat during dangerous times resonates across many spiritual traditions. From Buddhist teachings on accepting suffering without resistance, to Taoist principles of yielding to natural cycles, to Islamic concepts of trusting divine decree during hardship, wisdom traditions consistently advocate for the kind of patient submission that Jesus demonstrates in His exile. These traditions recognize that true strength often manifests through waiting rather than forcing, and that temporary displacement can serve larger purposes in the spiritual journey.
Allah tests believers through hardship and displacement, but those who remain patient (sabr) and trust in divine wisdom will find that Allah provides refuge and ultimate deliverance in His perfect timing.
Quran 65:2-3The practice of patient endurance (khanti) is essential when facing life's inevitable sufferings, as rushing to escape discomfort only creates more suffering, while accepting present circumstances with equanimity leads to wisdom.
Dhammapada 184The wise person yields like water, flowing around obstacles rather than confronting them directly, understanding that patient submission to natural cycles ultimately overcomes rigid resistance.
Tao Te Ching 78The exile experience teaches that God's people must sometimes dwell as strangers in foreign lands, trusting that the Almighty will preserve them through patient endurance until the time of return and restoration.
Psalm 137:1-4True wisdom lies in accepting what cannot be changed while focusing only on what remains within our control, finding peace through patient alignment with providence rather than futile resistance to circumstances.
Epictetus, Enchiridion 1