Israel Trip Pics

Week One - Reading Schedule

Mon, Oct 6: Matthew 1-2 Evening: Psalm 1-2, Proverbs 1

Tue, Oct 7: Matthew 3-4 Evening: Psalm 3-4, Proverbs 2

Wed, Oct 8: Matthew 5-7 Evening: Psalm 5-6, Proverbs 3

Thu, Oct 9: Matthew 8-10 Evening: Psalm 7-8, Proverbs 4

Fri, Oct 10: Matthew 11-13 Evening: Psalm 9-10, Proverbs 5

Matthew 1-2

Helpful insights about Chapters 1 & 2:

• The genealogy of Jesus through Joseph's lineage. This genealogy goes back to Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, showing Jesus as the "promised seed" in Genesis 12. It also connects Jesus with David, the great King of Israel. This is to show how Jesus is the promised Messiah Who will sit on the throne of David.
• The birth of Jesus is explained - Joseph's struggle, his dream, his faith & obedience.
• Call His name Jesus = Savior
• The birth of Jesus is a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14.
• Immanuel, God with us. God dwelling among His people was the hope they all carried. Israel experienced this joy during the time of the Tabernacle and the Temple. Now they would experience God in the form of Jesus Christ.
• Jesus is born in Bethlehem, the house of bread, a fulfillment of Micah 5:2. It's fitting for the "Bread of Life" to be born in the house of bread and laid in a feeding trough. What a picture!
• Chapter 2, Herod the Great enters the story.
• Wise men come from the east to worship Jesus. Jesus could have been as much as 2 years old when they visited. They are warned by God in a dream not to have any further communication with Herod.
• Joseph is warned in a dream to take Mary & Jesus and flee to Egypt. Jesus the Messiah will emerge from Egypt to save His people (Hosea 11:1). This is to show us the similarities between Jesus and Moses. Jesus being similar to Moses but far greater than Moses. It's interesting to see how these two lives are similar in The Story. Israel was told that Messiah would be 'a prophet like Moses'.
• Herod, in an attempt to kill Jesus, has all the male children two years and under in the area of Bethlehem killed (Jeremiah 31:15). Herod attempts to kill Jesus as a baby, Pharoah attempts to kill Moses as a baby.
• Herod the Great, dies. He is called great because of his building genius and architectural feats. He was probably the wealthiest man that has ever lived, making his money in the spice trade. During his reign, he employed many of the Jews with his vast building projects. This created a major moral dilemma in the region. The Jews hated him but he feed most of their families. It is said that he paid his workers very well. Herod the Great is one of the strangest and vilest personalities to have ever lived. History reports that he murdered his wife and then built a mausoleum for her and he visited the mausoleum freuently to mourn her death. He murdered two of his own sons in very torturous ways. He ruled with an iron fist when necessary. He was wealthy, powerful, eccentric, a visionary, one of the greatest builders ever, a tyrant, a ruthless killer and crafty politician. His three sons rule after his death. These three are never as powerful as their father, but they are just as immoral and vile.
• When Herod died, his kingdom was divided among his three sons: Archelaus, Philip and Antipas. These three rulers remain part of The Jesus Story.
• Joseph, Mary and Jesus leave Egypt and move to Nazareth.
• Jesus will be called a Nazarene - means branch, shoot or spout (Isaiah 11:1-16).

Question: Why would God choose to have Jesus born during the time of Herod the Great? Is God trying to show us a comparison between two Kings and two Kingdoms?