The Gospels are quite discrete about Yeshua's early childhood. In fact, we know very little about the conditions in which our Messiah grew up. This is also the main reason why so many people (among them believers) extrapolate and invent the craziest theories. We should be cautious and examine everything in the light of the Scriptures and according to the context of the 1st Century in order to avoid erroneous and misleading statements.
A young child in danger: an angel speaks to Joseph in a dream
In our contemporary world, many non-believers would mock a person who has been given dreams and visions. Yet Hashem still speaks to His children, in the same way, He did it back in the 1st Century. The Gospel of Matthew reports that Hashem sent an angel to Joseph while he was sleeping to inform him that he must flee with wife and child to Egypt, because little Yeshua's life was in danger.
"Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. And he rose and took the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.
This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, " Out of Egypt I called my son."
The Gospel of Matthew informs the reader that Yeshua's exile in Egypt is the fulfillment of the prophecy contained in the Book of Hosea, chapter 11, verse 1:
"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son"
The verse of prophet Hosea is a metaphorical picture that sets an important parallel with Israel and our Messiah Yeshua's destiny.
One must understand that the reference to Egypt (Mitsraim, in Hebrew, a land of servitude) is intimately linked with the Book of Exodus 4:22-23:
"Then you shall say to Pharaoh, "Thus says the Lord, "Israel is my son, my firstborn. So I said to you, "let my son go, so he may serve you."
In the same way, Yeshua is referred to as our Father's begotten Son ( yes, it is in the Tanakh for the ones who would doubt it!).
"I will tell of the decree:, "you are my Son, today I have begotten you." Psalm 2:7
The Massacre of the Innocents in the light of the Scriptures
King Herod was a cruel man, a despotic person who considered the person of the Messiah of Israel as a personal threat to his kingdom. In the first Century, many people thought that the Messiah would establish some physical kingdom. Herod knew that the Messiah king had been born to Israel, in the town of Bethlehem ( bait Lehem, the house of bread).
"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little among the clans of Judah,From you One will go forth for me to be a ruler in Israel,His goings forth are from long ago,From the days of eternity." Micah 5:2
When the cruel king realized that he had been tricked by the Magi, he made the decision to kill all male = children between 0 and 2 years of age living in the region of Bethlehem:
"Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the lake children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men." (Matthew 2:16)
Skeptics object that there is no factual proof that this massacre actually happened. In my opinion, people should be very cautious in dismissing Scriptural truth. Many hidden events, buildings or inscriptions often resurface after Centuries in archeological discoveries.
Because parts of King Solomon's temple have only been found recently, would you really doubt the very existence of Solomon's Temple 20 years ago?
In chapter 31, the prophet Jeremiah prophecied about the tragic event that would cost many newborn's lives:
"Thus says the Lord: a voice has been heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children, because they are no more." Jeremiah 31:15
Raised in a TORAH-observant family
It is sometimes surprising how people, who claim to be believers in our Messiah, prompt to make statements that have no biblical foundations. Whether their assumptions are based on apocrypha or vague beliefs regarding the places mentioned in the Bible-or simply a complete ignorance of Israeli customs, they are very much delusory.
I would like to dismiss some of these common beliefs regarding Yeshua's childhood:
- Yeshua wasn't "initiated" to Egyptian mysteries. This assumption is foolish. Why? Simply because Joseph and his wife Miriam were devout Jews. Even in the absence of a Jewish community in the land of Egypt, both parents would instruct their son in the knowledge of Hashem.
The Egyptian customs were avoided by Torah observant people since very ancient ages. Think of Joseph, the son of Jacob and Daniel the prophet, for instance.
-Yeshua wasn't raised in "Islamic beliefs". Islam didn't exist at this time. On a side note, Islam is inspired by the paganism of Egypt as well. The god of Islam is no other but an ancient moon god.
- we must admit that we don't know much about this child named Yeshua, our Messiah.
But, I'd like to dismiss here ALL unjustified claims that Yeshua wasn't raised properly in Torah.
Yeshua was observant enough to be considered a true Jew and be allowed for Torah reading in the Temple. We also know from the Gospels that Yeshua did not even neglect minor feasts in Judaism.
Another point that we must be aware of: our Father took care of Yeshua in a very special way. He was instructed constantly according to Hashem's full wisdom, as the Gospel of Luke fully confirms us:
"And Yeshua increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people." Luke 2:52
computerized image of Yeshua as a child, based on the Shroud of Turin ( made by the Italian police)
Copyright© by Isabelle Esling
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