The Egyptians Will Know The Lord

The reversal of Egypt's role in Matthew 2 is striking. Instead of the Israelites leaving Egyptian bondage, Jesus goes into Egypt for refuge.

"It will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and he will send them a Savior and a Champion, and he will deliver them. Thus the Lord will make himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day." (Isaiah 19:20-21)

"Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt" (Matthew 2:13)

In His hour of infant exile,
Once the Son of God in thee
Found a refuge from the tyrant,
Underneath thy sheltering tree.

And for this thou art remembered;
This great debt shall be repaid.
In earth's age of promised glory,
Israel's God shall lift thy head.
(Horatius Bonar, "Dead Egypt", Hymns Of The Nativity [London, England: James Nisbet & Co., 1879], 136-37)