December 26, 2004:
Living Between Times: You Can't Stay in Egypt

Eileen Parfrey, Springwater Pres.
Matthew 2:13-23, Genesis 45:1-8a, 50:15-20a, Isaiah 63:7-9

This time of year there is comfort in seeing how dysfunctional Bible families were. Somehow the stresses of our family's holiday "quality time" look better when we remember some of their stories. Sarah's jealousy that sent away her son's rival and his mother. The lengths to which Jacob went to trick Esau and their father. How David's brothers teased him before he threw the stone at Goliath. These are the folks whose stories point us to worship of the Eternal God. The prequel to today's Genesis passage is of sibling rivalry so murderous that selling a brother as a slave is merciful by comparison.

Today we find this happy bunch together again because they're starving to death, and the little brother they abused holds all the cards. Miraculously, after the kid has been through hell and high water because of his brothers' cruelty, we find Joseph, not vengeful, but willing to forgive the tormentors who sold him. "You intended to do harm, God intended it for good," he tells them. The good that comes of Joseph's slavery in Egypt (and later that of the whole family) is what formed the Israelites as the people of Israel in a commandment covenant with God. The Matthew passage brings us another Joseph, also a dreamer, also taking a salvation trip to Egypt so that God can form a new people. This new people-forming covenant will be sealed in the blood of the baby Joseph protected, all grown up, then killed and resurrected.

But I'm getting ahead of the story. Today's story is about the escape to Egypt. The Egyptian journey forced on the first Joseph may have begun as slavery, but his dreams and interpretations make him Pharaoh's most trusted advisor, a position which saves not only Egypt, but all of Jacob's children and children's children. The second Joseph has a flurry of dreams-first to take a wife, then to protect her and the child by escaping to Egypt, then to return to Israel, and finally to settle in Nazareth. Like the first journey to Egypt, this one was a temporary stop on the road to becoming God's people. Egypt represents salvation for a time, but it was never the final destination. Eventually, they had to leave, because you can't stay in Egypt. Even Jesus had to leave Egypt.

It is small consolation in today's gospel story to know that there is no historical evidence for the "slaughter of the innocents," no historical document proving Herod killed all the babies in Bethlehem at the time of Jesus' birth. It's one of the more grisly stories in scripture, and there is little comfort in hearing that "it probably didn't happen." Why did Matthew need it in his gospel? Was he aiming for an R rating to increase box office draw? There are scholars who harp on Matthew's literary device of framing Jesus' life in terms of fulfilled prophecies. I don't think the form of Matthew's gospel is the result of his Hebrew prophets professor putting as an essay question on the final exam, "Prove Jesus was the Messiah by using as many prophecies as possible." But at some theological level, Matthew needed to have the holy family go to Egypt so he could have Jesus come out of Egypt. The idea was that Jesus was the "new Israel," and coming out of Egypt paralleled Israel's formation. Well, if Jesus is called out of Egypt, so are we. Coming out of Egypt is necessary for our formation.

I'm reading a book by my former pastor, just reviewed in Presbyterians Today. The book is called, Searching for Home, and its premise is that, although we have an idealized picture of "home" for which we are looking, that ideal is not "home"-any more than Egypt was home to Joseph and baby Jesus. Like the holy family fleeing the wrath of Herod, there are times when it is necessary for our salvation to figuratively go to Egypt. When the abused partner has to leave the marriage. When the non-alcoholic family members must go to Al-Anon, even if the drinker won't. When the meanness of the kids sends you looking for new friends. When the job you love is in a company going under. When your call is away from your church home. Sometimes Egypt is a good choice. But ultimately, Egypt is not home. You can't stay in Egypt.

Church experts these days are saying mainline denomination congregations (such as ourselves) could benefit from a trip to Egypt. After 1600 years thinking of Christianity as the dominant culture, the truth is the numbers no long support this. There was a time when the majority of people in this country was at church on any given Sunday, but take a look around this morning. Of the approximately 250 people you know, how many of them are here right now? How many do you think are in church today at all? This is Oregon, people. As much as 7% of the population was in church this week, but only because it seemed the nice thing to do at Christmas. Ask people in downtown Estacada (or the customers of the Springwater Store or the Resource Center) how many of them know even some of the songs in Voice of Praise. We are a dying breed, folks. Even among Christians, the number of people who think worship is about sitting still and listening is getting smaller. Organ music is for ball parks, not even skating rinks anymore. Fewer people think a sermon is supposed to unpack the meaning of the text in Greek. Springwater welcomes with open arms any visitors who come through our doors, but most people, even if they are on a spiritual journey, do not look to traditional church to help them. Unless they have already begun sharing their faith journey with someone in a church. Church is the last place they look for spiritual guidance.

Most of us have experienced an Egypt, whether or not we call it that. A time when life's pressures became too much and we had to get relief, escape somehow. Perhaps it was throwing yourself into a career or volunteer work that saved you from feeling like a worthless human being. Perhaps it was full time parenting. Maybe you found help in support groups or friendship. Maybe journaling prayers and questions helped you focus your search. Maybe you read everything you could get your hands on about the absence of God. These places may have been your Egypt, where you found safety and refuge from the dangers of your own discouragement or threats from others. As much relief as they gave, necessary as they were to your well-being and wholeness, they are not your final destination. Ultimately, they are only Egypt, and you can't stay in Egypt.

Well, why not? Egypt once represented salvation-or at least a respite-but ultimately it's not "home." What we are on, this side of heaven, is journey. We're not home yet. All the rescues and times of safety-they're all Egypt because they aren't home. They are all incomplete, they are all "not there yet," because they are not heaven. And that is good. The very not-home-ness of Egypt is good. If Egypt were enough, if Egypt were home to us, we might stay there. As it is, the very incompleteness of the Egypt experience in our lives keeps us moving, keeps us searching for God. What is missing, what is not home in Egypt, is the basis of our search for God.

Like Joseph, the dreaming husband of Mary, maybe your dreams lead you, pull you out of one Egypt to another place. It takes courage to keep going, to answer that call. Joseph, you remember, had one dream to get him out of Egypt and another to get him into Nazareth. His dreams didn't give a destination until he left, heading back to his faith community. The trip to Egypt itself is not on a return trip ticket. There may be intermediate stops, like the holy family's stops, but like them we are searching for our ultimate home. We only get to know the final home-going is in our God. In the meantime, God invites us to trust that the call to Egypt is for good, just as the call out of Egypt is for good. As you contemplate the coming new year with its hopes for fresh starts, ask God to help you know when you are in Egypt, and when it's time to move on.