Israel’s exodus from Egypt as a type to be fulfilled in the ministry of Christ finds its starting point in the first book of the New Testament. The New Testament gospel writers, have noticed the resemblances between the first exodus of National Israel and the ministry of Jesus. One of the most interesting things about Matthew and Paul’s gospels are there Old Testament links to the first exodus. We will dive into Paul’s later.In the Old Testament the nation of Israel was called God's son. In the first exodus God called his son out of Egypt. Exodus. 4:22-23 "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD: "Israel is My son, My firstborn. "So I say to you, (let My son go) that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn." (emphasis added)
Matthew records to how Joseph received a warning from the angel about Herod's plan to kill the Child Jesus and how Joseph takes Mary and the baby Jesus and escapes by night into Egypt; (Matthew 2:13-15)
But then Matthew quotes something that would seem to be very odd. Matthew insert when Jesus first went into Egypt? v. 13 he was fulfilling Hosea 11:1? "Out of Egypt I called my Son." Matthew places the quotation of Hosea’s Son coming out of Egypt, before Jesus even goes into Egypt. What is going on here that is really awkward. Believe me, what Matthew has in mind is not awkward. Matthew wants us to see the deeper significance of Jesus' journey into Egypt.
God called the nation of Israel out from under the bondage and slavery of Egypt to serve Him and bring a revelation light to the gentile and His salvation to the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6) However the nation of Israel did a great evil and abandoned the God of their fathers, and started serving other gods. Judges 2:11-13 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals. And they abandoned the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed down to them. And they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth.
How does Jesus descent into Egypt to bring about the second exodus fulfilling the Messianic promise of Hosea 11:1? God could have abandoned His plans when the nation of Israel, He called out of Egypt, failed to serve Him and bear witness to the Gentiles. Yet that is not what He did, as revealed in Matthew 2:13–15 which describes Jesus’ descent into Egypt and return to Galilee as a fulfillment of a prophecy first given in (Hosea 11:1)
Jesus descent into Egypt and return from Egypt is fulfilling the failed mission of the nation of Israel. Jesus is the true Son, who came out of Egypt and serves God. John 14:10 The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Jesus also brings a light to the Gentiles as told a devout man named Simeon. Luke 2:32 A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel. Now do you see what Matthew is doing? Jesus is the true Son, who came from Egypt doing the work God call him to do.
And that is not all. The nation of Israel coming out from under the bondage and slavery of Egypt under the leadership of Moses was a type and shadow of God’s Israel coming out from under the bondage and slavery of sin under the leadership of Christ.
In the times of Christ, there was a great bondage and slave master must like Pharoah. In fact, this bondage and slave master had been oppressing the Israelites and all of humanity since the fall of Adam. The bondage and slave master is sin. Jesus brings this point out when speaking to Abraham’s descendants the members of national Israel who thought they had never been in bondage. Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. (John 8:34)
Matthew’s Exodus typology is to strengthen the faith of those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and deliver. Their only hope of going from slavery to freedom was an exodus by the shed blood on the cross. Thus Paul, used the language of bondage in Galatians 5:1 as he admonishes believers to, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." The yoke of bondage Paul speaking of is the old covenant of the law.
There are many comparisons in scripture. Pharaoh and Herod for example. Both sought to destroy God’s delivers of slavery by slaughtering male babies. As Moses escaped Pharaoh, Jesus escapes Herod. Do you see the pattern? Jesus is reliving Israel's history. Matthew wants to assure his reader, that Jesus was the true deliver sent by God and in him is their complete exodus, from the captivity of sin.
We see the “Second Exodus” in the nature of the ministry of Christ. In the fulness of time God sent his Son to deliver the Israelites from the bondage and slavery of sin, so they we might receive adoption as sons.
