Word Study Wednesday

[Mat 2:12-18 KJV] 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 

God warned the wisemen to not to return to Herod.  Does God still communicate with His people through dreams?  I believe He can and does, although I don't hear testimonies of it often.  We have something that these people did not, daily access to the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit.

13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 

An angel appearing to Joseph has happened before so he had experience in believing what God instructed him to do through His messengers.  How long were Jesus and His parents in Egypt?  This article explains it well I think.  The OT prophet who said this was Hosea, Chapter 11 verse 1.

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping [for] her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

Jeremiah 31:15 tragically fulfilled because a king felt threatened.  Herod was not long in the world after this massacre.