Nahum
Revelation 14
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” —Luke 2:1
Caesar Augustus was reigning in Rome when he issued an edict throughout the entire empire, causing everyone to go register in their hometown so that Rome could know how many citizens it ruled over in addition to putting a bit of tax on the people and increasing the storehouse of their supply. We could not imagine how Mary and Joseph must have reacted when they heard Caesar’s decree. Since Joseph was from the house of David, this meant they had to travel all the way to Bethlehem to register for the census. They were living in Nazareth at that time and the journey to Bethlehem was more than 150 km. The road ahead was not smooth and easy as they would have had to trek through some perilous countryside; in fact, as good Jews, they would have avoided Samaria, making their trip even longer. Yet, on top of all this, Mary was nine months pregnant with the Messiah! In our present day, some airlines would actually prevent women from travelling during the last month of their pregnancy because they pose a high risk if there were any complications during the flight. But Mary and Joseph did not have a choice; risking everything—even Mary’s life—they were forced to migrate.
The fact that Mary and Joseph had to be in Bethlehem when Jesus was born fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah. Micah 5:2 tells us, “‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Since all of David’s descendants were forced to go to Bethlehem to register for the census, there was no room in the inn for Mary and Joseph. When it came time for Jesus to be born, He was wrapped in a cloth and placed in a feeding trough. Could we believe that the Saviour of the world came not in a fancy palace, but in a humble stable?
As unplanned and unprepared as this seemed on the earthly side—the forced migration and inhospitable quarters that marginalized the family—God had this all planned and prepared on the heavenly side. He was transforming some of the shabbiest spaces into a sacred sanctuary.
Our God knows no borders. He is not restricted to a place and His plans always prevail. He was able to turn the leftover space in the stable into the welcoming place for the Messiah. Where are the unexpected places of difficulty in our lives that He is seeking to transform into spaces of hope, where we can welcome Jesus?
Dear God, Your plans always prevail. In the unknown and uncertainty, I place my hope in You. Thank You, Lord.
Revelation 14
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.” —Luke 2:1
Caesar Augustus was reigning in Rome when he issued an edict throughout the entire empire, causing everyone to go register in their hometown so that Rome could know how many citizens it ruled over in addition to putting a bit of tax on the people and increasing the storehouse of their supply. We could not imagine how Mary and Joseph must have reacted when they heard Caesar’s decree. Since Joseph was from the house of David, this meant they had to travel all the way to Bethlehem to register for the census. They were living in Nazareth at that time and the journey to Bethlehem was more than 150 km. The road ahead was not smooth and easy as they would have had to trek through some perilous countryside; in fact, as good Jews, they would have avoided Samaria, making their trip even longer. Yet, on top of all this, Mary was nine months pregnant with the Messiah! In our present day, some airlines would actually prevent women from travelling during the last month of their pregnancy because they pose a high risk if there were any complications during the flight. But Mary and Joseph did not have a choice; risking everything—even Mary’s life—they were forced to migrate.
The fact that Mary and Joseph had to be in Bethlehem when Jesus was born fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah. Micah 5:2 tells us, “‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Since all of David’s descendants were forced to go to Bethlehem to register for the census, there was no room in the inn for Mary and Joseph. When it came time for Jesus to be born, He was wrapped in a cloth and placed in a feeding trough. Could we believe that the Saviour of the world came not in a fancy palace, but in a humble stable?
As unplanned and unprepared as this seemed on the earthly side—the forced migration and inhospitable quarters that marginalized the family—God had this all planned and prepared on the heavenly side. He was transforming some of the shabbiest spaces into a sacred sanctuary.
Our God knows no borders. He is not restricted to a place and His plans always prevail. He was able to turn the leftover space in the stable into the welcoming place for the Messiah. Where are the unexpected places of difficulty in our lives that He is seeking to transform into spaces of hope, where we can welcome Jesus?
Dear God, Your plans always prevail. In the unknown and uncertainty, I place my hope in You. Thank You, Lord.