Context – The 8th century BC prophet Hosea spoke to Israel about God’s faithfulness despite their idolatrous adultery. While he’s directly referring to the nation of Israel, it also extends to the True Israel and True Son of God:

Hosea 11:1 – When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

Context – Time has passed since Jesus’ birth, and the young family now has a proper house in Bethlehem. We do not know the exact age of Jesus, but he is referred to as a “child” instead of a baby and must have been under 2 considering Herod’s treacherous child eradication order (Matthew 2:16): 

Matthew 2:10-11,13-15,19-20,22-23a – When [the wise men] saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh… 13 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.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 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”… 19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead”… 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23a and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth.

Context – Hebrews 12 compares the Israelites’ fear at Mount Sinai after coming out of slavery in Egypt to all believers’ final joy at Mount Zion (God’s dwelling place) after coming out of slavery in the personified Egypt of sin at the end of the age.

Hebrews 12:18-19,21-24a,28-29 – You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them… 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant… 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

• Israel – A nation called out of Egypt, baptized by the Red sea (1 Cor. 10:2), sent to wander the wilderness, and given the promised land of Canaan.
• Jesus – The True Israel called out of Egypt, baptized by John, sent to be tempted in the wilderness, and who offers God’s ultimate promised land.
• Believers – Grafted into Israel (Rom. 11:17), called out of sin, baptized in the Spirit, living in a wilderness world, and waiting for the final promised land.

• How does Jesus’ coming out of Egypt parallel with Israel’s exodus?
• What do we learn about Jesus from the wise men’s journey and gifts?
• How are believers also to be called out of Egypt?