Jesus the new Israel

Hosea 11:1 & Matthew 2:15 ...out of Egypt I called my son.

• First-born son of God (Ex 4:22 & Mt 3:17)

• Left Egypt to go to the land of Israel: Moses and the Israelites (Ex 13:17-22); the holy family (Mt 2:14-15,19-21)

• Led by God into the wilderness: after Israel left Egypt to get to the Red Sea (Ex13:18); Jesus led by the Spirit (Mt 4:1)

• Renewal through the Holy Spirit and water: the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire with Israel when crossing the Red Sea (Ex 14:15-31); a dove rested on Jesus at his baptism in the River Jordan (Mt 3:13-17)

• Period of testing and preparation in the wilderness: 40 years for Israel (Num 14:34); 40 days for Jesus (Mt 4:1-2)

• Jesus’s testing undid the sins of Israel in the wilderness:

  • Israel's hunger / lack of faith in God to provide food (Ex 16:3); Jesus refused to turn stone into bread (Mt 4:4)

  • Israel putting God to the test to provide water for them to drink (Ex 17:2); Jesus refused to test God by throwing himself off the temple to be rescued by the angels (Mt 4:7)

  • Israel's worship of the golden calf (Ex 32); Jesus refused to worship Satan to gain possession of the kingdoms of the world (Mt 4:10)

• Symbolised as vine: Israel as the vine taken out of Egypt, planted in the promised land and became spoilt by other nations but hoped to be restored by God (Ps 80:6-19): fulfilled by Jesus as the true vine to abide in (Jn 15:1-8)

• Light of the world: from Israel salvation would extend to all nations (Is 42:6, 49:6); fulfilled by Jesus to those who follow him (Jn 19:23)