Though You Are Small…

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria). And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:1–7, NIV 1984).

My Musings – Anyone wishing to relegate Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecy to happenstance or contrivance, would be hard-pressed to explain this one. Of course, He was “fortunate” to be born into the Davidic line. “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs.” (Genesis 49:10, NIV 1984).

But “unfortunate” that His mother and her espoused husband lived in Nazareth. “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.” (Micah 5:2, NIV 1984). Who would have thought that a distant pagan emperor would issue a decree (whose idea was that?) that would make the journey to Bethlehem, where Jesus would be born?

My Advice – There will be things in our lives that seem happenstance or contrived. But for a believer, there are no such things. We should pay particular attention to these things, looking for how God might be working for our good. Though we may be “small among the clans,” God often accomplishes His purposes through us. What a privilege. How incredibly humbling.

Author: thebrewisamusing

I was raised in a Christian family and my earliest childhood memories include regular Sunday school and Church attendance as a family. I was taught that our Judeo-Christian values were not just a part of our Sunday routine they should be part of our character and influence all aspects of our lives. I was also taught that as important as these values were they could not save us. We must also be “born again” by accepting Christ. View all posts by thebrewisamusing