Displacement, Divine Protection, and Forced Migration: Re-reading Matthew 2:13–23 in Conversation with Nigeria's Internally Displaced Persons Crisis

Abstract The displacement of people is an acute humanitarian concern and the Nigerian situation is highly complex with wide-spread internal displacement driven by insurgency, banditry, communal violence and environmental conditions. Although there has been a great deal of research and interest in the political and humanitarian aspects of displacement, little work has been done on the theological implications of the biblical texts. This paper reconsiders the Matthew 2:13-23 text focusing on forced migration and its relevance in the context of the internally displaced persons, (IDP) crisis in Nigeria. Using historical-critical and African contextual hermeneutics, the study proposes that Matthew's description of the flight to Egypt depicts displacement as a theological experience characterized by vulnerability, God's protection, resilience, and hope. The story depicts Jesus and his family as victims of political violence forced to seek refuge, thereby offering a biblical lens to the issues of displacement today. The article uses Nigerian IDP experiences to engage Matthew's narrative, highlighting themes of divine presence, communal suffering and restoration. It also argues that the church's response must go beyond the provision of humanitarian aid to incorporate advocacy, psychological and social support and social change. The study is a contribution to migration theology in the sense that it is an attempt to provide a contextual biblical framework for the Christian response to displacement in Nigeria. Keywords: Displacement, Forced Migration, Internally Displaced, Persons, Migration Theology, African Contextual Hermeneutics