“Now it came abut in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee.” (Luke 2:1, 3-4a)
OUTSIDE FORCE
Have you ever had it happen in your life that some outside force just up and decided that you needed to do such and such even though it would inconvenience you, period, end of sentence?
Sure you have.
It’s what happened to Jesus’ father, Joseph, long ago.
There he was living in his hometown of Nazareth where he was running a flourishing carpentry business (we can draw the conclusion since Joseph was such and upstanding man).
He was a new husband, too, having married Mary (try saying that three times fast – married Mary, married Mary, married Mary).
And along with these things, Joseph also had his first child on the way.
This is where Joseph was when he woke up one morning.
And then went and checked his Twitter feed.
And now this!
The government decides Joseph needs to go on a journey to Bethlehem, some 70 miles south, to be counted.
(“Can’t we just do it by mail-in ballot?”)
And since they didn’t have cars in those days (just Mercedes camels!), Joseph can’t just leave at lunch time and be back for dinner.
This was a big deal!
Let alone when you add to it he has to bring his “in her last days of pregnancy” wife along. (Luke 2:4-5)
I think you get the picture.
GOD OF THE INCONVENIENCE
This wasn’t an easy thing that all of a sudden was thrust upon Joseph’s life.
This wasn’t an easy thing … but it was God!
It’s what I want you to walk away with.
You see, Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2)
So how else was God going to get Christ’s parents to head down there except – and here’s the Lord speaking now, “You know, I need to get Joseph and Mary to the city of David. So I know what I’ll do. Something simple. I’ll just put it in the head of the government to count everybody.”
Do you think God may have worked it out like that?
I do.
The next time you’re inconvenienced and somebody decides for you that you need to do such and such and you no longer have a choice in the matter, remember, it just might be the Lord who’s behind it all.
(View of Bethlehem in 1898 via the public domain: click here.)
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