So little is mentioned about Jesus' youth. We really only have the account in Matthew chapter 2 about him going to Eygpt (which parallels Isreal's adolescence as a nation) and this passage.
"And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him." - Luke 2:40 ESV
Followed by this account...
"Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, 'Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.' And he said to them, 'Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?' And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." - Luke 2:41-52 ESV
Notice how verse 52 is much like verse 40. It is one of many Hebrew parallelisms used in the Gospels. You see this construction in the Psalms and Proverbs. Say something. Then contrast, reiterate or amplify it.
Jesus was like an army brat of sorts. He moved from Bethlehem to Eygpt, then Natzeret. It just made me think of the great advantage missionary children have. They are moving (or staying) only because their parents are seeking God and going where they sense they are being led. Those choices aren't always easy ones.
"...saying, 'Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.' And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene." - Matthew 2:20-23 ESV
They go but obstacles are in their path. They choose based on what is available but that is God's will. Jesus grew in that faith environment not in spite of it. Faith provides tension that isn't comfortable and uses reason. Going but not stepped right into the fire. Also not holding back because of danger.
These passages convict me to be full of faith and moving when it is time to move.
"Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. The sluggard says, 'There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!' As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly." - Proverbs 26:12-16 ESV
Wow. We can be too careful and maybe we can also be too careless also. Our eyes need to be fixed on the redemptive cause.
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