Unafraid by Francine Rivers Read Free Book Online Page B

could they protect Jesus if King Herod came searching for him?
    Joseph drew her into his arms. “I’m afraid, too, Mary, but surely the Lord can protect his own Son.”
    “We should go back to Nazareth.”
    “No. We wait here.” They both needed reminding. “God directs our steps.”

          
    Joseph heard the voice again that night while he lay upon his pallet with Mary tucked against him. “Joseph,” the angel said, luminescent and powerful, yet comforting. “Joseph.”
    “Yes, Lord,” Joseph said in his sleep.
    “Get up and flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to try to kill the child.”
    Joseph awakened abruptly in the darkness. All was still in the street outside. He rose carefully so he wouldn’t awaken Mary, took up the gifts the magi had left for Jesus and placed them carefully in the box with the scrolls that had been passed down to him. He went out to the stall he’d built at the back of the house and harnessed his donkey, tightening straps around its girth to mount burden baskets on each side. He tucked the box with the precious scrolls and gifts for Jesus in one and packed his tools, leather apron, and squares of olive wood in the other. Then he went to fill two skins with water and scoop enough grain into a bag to last the family a week.
    “Mary,” he whispered, leaning down to kiss her brow. “Mary, wake up.” She sat up and rubbed her eyes like a little girl. He brushed the tendrils of hair back from her face. “An angel of the Lord came to me in a dream. We must leave Bethlehem at once . ”
    She glanced up, her eyes alight with hope. “Are we going back to Nazareth?”
    “No, my love, we’re going to Egypt.” He saw alarm and dismay enter her eyes, but had no time to ease her fears. “Come, come,” he said, taking her hand. “We must leave.” As soon as she was standing, he took up the blankets and folded them quickly. “Make Jesus ready to travel.” He took the blankets out and tied them on top of the pack.
    Mary came outside soon after, Jesus bundled warmly and already asleep again in a sling she’d tied around her shoulders. She could nurse him easily as they traveled.
    They set off into the night. Joseph felt no regret at the loss of the house he had purchased for his family or the business that had just begun to prosper. His only thought was to get Jesus safely out of Bethlehem before Herod sent his soldiers to find and kill him.
    “Lord, give us strength for the journey,” Joseph whispered. “Give us strength and courage for whatever lies ahead.”
    As they traveled along a byway widened by the onslaught of pilgrims coming up from the regions of Ashdod, Ashke-lon, and Gaza, the sun rose in front of them. Jesus awakened and cried. “He’s hungry,” Mary said. They stopped to rest so she could nurse him. “Did you ever think, Joseph, that we might be following the same road Joseph did when his brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites?”
    Her sweetness pierced him. She thought about so many things, pondering them and wondering at possible hidden meanings. “No. I only thought to get us out of Bethlehem as fast as possible.” He watched her set Jesus on his feet. She laughed as the little boy trotted happily toward a path of red poppies. Sometimes Joseph could hardly fathom that this child was the Son of God. Most of the time, he seemed like any other little boy of his age, fascinated by everything around him, needing protection and guidance. Yet there were times when a light would come into his eyes as though he remembered something. Was he merely human? Or wisdom incarnate, budding each day until full comprehension of who he was came upon him in all force? And then what would happen? Would this little boy Joseph loved like his own flesh and blood become the warrior-king all Israel longed to see?
    Or . . . Joseph felt a strange sensation prickle along his spine. His