1461. 'And Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn' means instruction in cognitions from the Word. This is clear from the meaning of 'Egypt' and from the meaning of 'sojourning'. That 'Egypt' means knowledge comprised of cognitions, and 'sojourning' receiving instruction, will be seen in what follows shortly. That the Lord received instruction in childhood as anybody else does is clear from those places in Luke quoted previously at verse 9 in 1457, and also from what has been stated just above concerning the external man, who cannot possibly be made to correspond and accord with the internal man except by means of cognitions. The external man is seated in the body and the senses, and does not receive anything celestial or spiritual unless cognitions are implanted in it as in the soil. Celestial things are able to utilize these as their own recipient vessels, but those cognitions must be from the Word. Cognitions from the Word are such as lie open from the Lord Himself, for the Word itself comes from the Lord by way of heaven, and the Lord's life is present in every single detail of it, though this is not to be seen in the external form. From this it may become clear that in childhood the Lord wished to take in no other cognitions than those of the Word, which, as stated, was laid open to Him from Jehovah Himself, His Father, with whom He was to be united and become one. And that wish was even stronger for the reason that no statement occurs in the Word that does not inmostly have regard to Him and does not in the first place come from Him. For His Human Essence was purely an addition to His Divine Essence which existed from eternity.

1457. That 'Abram travelled, going on and travelling' means further advance becomes clear from the meaning of 'going on and travelling'. Among the ancients, journeys, travels, and sojournings had no other meaning, and therefore in the internal sense have no other meaning in the Word. The Lord's advances forward into cognitions begin here. That the Lord also was taught like any other child is made clear in Luke,

The young child ¹ grew and became strong in spirit; he was in desert places till the day of His manifestation to Israel. Luke 1:80.

In the same gospel,

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:40.

In the same gospel,

Joseph and Jesus' mother after three days found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and answers. When they saw Him they were astonished, but He said to them, How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be in those things that are My Father's? ² Luke 2:46, 49.

He was at that time twelve years old, Luke 2:42. In the same gospel, Jesus advanced in wisdom and in years, ³ and in grace with God and men. Luke 2:52.

Footnotes: