Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 2:13

"Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." — Matthew 2:13 (ASV)

Angels were busy in those days, for they had special charge of their Royal Master. Joseph’s high office, as guardian of the young child and his mother, brought him much anxiety and made him an exile from his country. We cannot expect to serve the Lord and yet have an easy time of it.

We must cheerfully journey across a desert if we have a charge to keep for our God, and we must remain in banishment, if need be, and never venture to come back until the Lord sends us our passports. Our orders are, Be thou there until I bring thee word. The Lord’s servants must wait for the Lord’s word before they make a move, whether it is to go abroad or to return home. Waiting is hard work, especially waiting in Egypt, but it is safe to wait until we have our marching orders.