
Luke 2:1-7
Verse 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
We have talked about how God works in the details of life and today’s reading shows us how God works in the details of an individual family by working out the details of the greater scheme of things. Caesar Augustus was not working on fulfilling prophesies of the God of Israel. He had no plans of setting the stage for another king to be born and yet God was the one working out the details He had told the prophets over 400 years before.
Caesar Augustus was a ruler who was looking to see how many people he had in his kingdom and God was a ruler who was setting the stage to extend His kingdom from those born into a certain family line to include those around the world. While Caesar Augustus’ motives were all about self-gain, God was in the process of making the largest sacrifice anyone had made or ever would make.
Mary and Joseph were making a trip which would have been one of the most difficult of their lives. Traveling at that late date in her pregnancy would not have been easy nor comfortable. While most retellings of the story have her riding on a donkey – a ride that wouldn’t have added to her comfort – the couple may not have had that luxury and may have walked the whole way from their hometown of Nazareth to Bethlehem.
The town of Bethlehem was bursting at the seams by the time the young, expectant couple arrived. After such a long journey they were probably willing to take any shelter possible. What they may have found was a cave where animals were sheltered. It would have given them a private place that was out of the weather and if there were animals in there at the time, they would radiate some heat if it was cool out.
Joseph may have felt bad about having to haul his very pregnant bride all the way to the home of their ancestor David. The carpenter now found himself in a place where it would be difficult to make the kind of home he had hoped to make for Mary. We don’t know how long they were there before it was time for Jesus to be born but God had set the perfect time and place. He never fails to cover all the details in His plan.
Making It Personal
When has something happened and things didn’t go as you had planned? How did God work to make things good anyway? How could trusting God to work out the details, help you find peace?
Making It Personal Kids
What are some details that God has worked out in your life? Do those details always make you happy? Do you think trusting God with the details could help you not worry?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for working out the big and small details in our lives. Help us learn to trust You in every area of our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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