If you think about it, Joseph and Mary were from the area of Galilee, Mary was far pregnant, it would be at least 8 days of travel to Bethlehem. I don’t think she wanted to, or desired to go to Bethlehem in her state. So how did the couple find themselves in Bethlehem at Jesus birth, and why?
God’s Plan, God’s Time
The events around the birth of Jesus are exactly where I see the sovereign hand of God on display. Paul tells us in Ephesians 1 that God planned to save us through Christ even before the foundation of the world. He promised it for thousands of years ahead of time, all through the Old Testament scriptures, then at the right time He sent Christ into the world. One of these OT prophesies, written 700 years before (Micah) tells us exactly where the Messiah would be born:
“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)
In Matt 2:4-5 when Herod assembled “…all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet.” The Jews were watching for a King born in Bethlehem, so IF Jesus was the Savior and King of Israel he HAD to be born in Bethlehem.
But before all this happened, God ensured that Joseph would marry Mary, even though he did not hav
e to. An angel appeared to Joseph and guided him in his decisions and so God ensured that Joseph was the legal father of Jesus.
So how does God move these two reluctant travelers to Bethlehem?
Luke 2:1 “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.”
Caesar Augustus ruled Rome from 31BC to 14AD. Powerful, ambitious and successful as a Roman Emperor he issued a decree for everyone in the Roman world to return to their hometown and register their names. The census was aimed at consolidating his power and control over the people as well as impose and collect taxes, to fund the Roman government and all his building projects.
Here we see God move forces in the political world to get Joseph and Mary where they need to be, exactly when they need to be there, at Jesus’ birth.
And Joseph, Jesus legal father, was the right man who belonged to the house and linage of David (Luke 2:4-7), Bethlehem was his designated census hub, therefore he was legally bound to register in Bethlehem. Even Joseph’s bloodline was chosen by God in preparation for a fulfilment of a prophesy.
Even the name of the town of Bethlehem is significant because Bethlehem is pronounced “Beit-lehem” in Hebrew, where “Beit” means house and “Lechem” means bread. Jesus declared “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35). Little details but sewn together by God.
Bethlehem is also the burial site for Rachel the matriarch of the Jews, the mother of the last child Benjamin born to Jacob. Matthew quotes the prophet Jeremiah. “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted.” (Matthew 2:18) Rachel was weeping because her children were in exile and in desperate need of a deliverer. Jesus would be the next Son born to the nation Israel and would be the one to deliver Rachel’s children and the whole world from a sin dominated life in exile to death. Now this is a detail written up thousands of years before to be fulfilled by the hand of God.
Even the story of Naomi and her Moabite daughter Ruth is written into the details of Jesus life through Bethlehem. Naomi came from Bethlehem and on her return sent Ruth to work in the field of a wealthy relative named Boaz. He becomes their kinsman redeemer, he marries Ruth, at great cost to himself saving them from their dire circumstances. They have a son named Obed, who was the grandfather of King David. (Ruth 4:13-17) and the forefather of Jesus. Jesus became the kinsman redeemer for all who believe in Him. Saving us on the cross, at great cost to himself from the curse of sin and death. Naming us as his family and giving us His name, which is above every other name.
All these little details, tied up in the town of Bethlehem, all pointing to Bethlehem, a small insignificant town as the birthplace of the Messiah.
Every prophesy fulfilled – proof that Jesus was the Messiah.
Romans 11:33 AMP “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and decisions and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways!”
Every little detail of Jesus birth in Bethlehem was planned, orchestrated and directed by God. God puts His sovereign rule over world history and events on display. How comforting to know that God plans, orchestrates and directs even our paths, down to the little details.
Thank you, Lord, for the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus that made it possible to have a relationship with You. Thank you that You planned it all, and made it happen long before I was born and that it gives me the confidence to know that You have planned and have control in my life to the tiniest detail. I praise You because You are sovereign and loving, the One and only redeemer of my soul. Thank you for Your Word that reminds me every year of the miracle that is the birth of Jesus and why it was truly a celebration on heaven and earth. I bless Your name Lord Jesus and welcome You as King of my life.
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