He Had To Go To Bethlehem

ByJim Stephens

Reading: Luke 2:1-5

1 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was obviously pregnant by this time. (Luke 2:1-5 NLT)

Centuries earlier, the prophet Micah spoke these words: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.” (Micah 5:2 NLT). 

Now, when the time came for God’s son to come into the world, the Roman emperor Augustus ordered everyone in his vast empire to travel to their city of family origin to be counted for tax and census purposes. Now, Joseph had to go to Bethlehem in Judea to register for the census. Now, Mary had to travel to Bethlehem because Mary’s baby was God’s son and God’s son had to be born in Bethlehem.

When God gives his word, he does what it takes to make it happen. Here’s a promise from God’s word to Jeremiah: The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.”  (Jeremiah 1:12 NIV)

When God gives his word to me, he will do what is required to bring it about. That may make things uncomfortable for me! The fulfillment of God’s word required Joseph and Mary to make a long journey under less than pleasant circumstances. The fulfillment of God’s word may require me to respond in obedient faith in a situation that I simply don’t understand.

  • Joseph’s part of the fulfillment of God’s purpose was to saddle up the donkey and to obey the messages God gave him in dreams. God’s part was everything else.
  • My part of the fulfillment of God’s purpose is to respond in faith to God’s word by doing with the right attitude what is required of me. God’s part is everything else.

Prayer:

Father, Please help us with this! There are things you have spoken to us through the years about our lives that haven’t happened yet. Please be clear with us about our part of the plan, and patient with us as we try to live it out day by day. Give us sensitivity to listen, attentiveness to hear, and courage to obey. And please give us settled confidence that everything else is your part and in your hands!  Amen.