Micah 5:2,4
“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… He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.”
We can be encouraged daily
because we serve a God who is in control and has a plan for everything that
happens on this earth. Did you know the prophet Micah prophesied Bethlehem to
be the birthplace of the Messiah in the Old Testament approximately 650 years
before it occurred? Grab your Bible and read it for yourself. I suggest you
begin in chapter four and read through chapter seven. Amazing!
Between the Old and New
Testaments there are 400 years of complete silence from God. Not one word from
God to a priest, prophet or king.
But God’s plan of mercy,
love and grace was revealed when He sent a baby, His only son Jesus, to be born
in a manger in Bethlehem. God finished the long time of silence with delivery
of the Savior.
Bethlehem was a small town
5 miles southwest of Jerusalem. Historical records have the population
approximately 500-1,000 people. The name Bethlehem means “house of bread” due
to the surrounding lush fields and olive groves and the abundant harvests. King
David was born in Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1) and baby Jesus, the Messiah, was
also born in Bethlehem. Every thing that happened in Bethlehem during the birth
of Jesus is recorded as facts in the Historical Documents. The names of kings, years,
towns and cities are all listed from the Old Testament to the New Testament. We
also have archeological findings in museums from this time period to confirm
the events of the birth of Christ. No other religion has the amount of
historical facts and archeological findings as the faith of Christianity.
Joseph and Mary were both
descendants of David and it was decreed by Caesar Augustus that the entire
world should be registered. To be registered one must return to their ancestral
home and pay his Roman taxes. This one decree required Joseph to leave Nazareth
and take his very pregnant wife on a 70 mile, very grueling journey on a
donkey, back to his hometown, Bethlehem. I highly recommend the incredible
movie The Nativity for everyone to watch. This movie presents a thought
provoking picture of the difficult trek these two young new parents-to-be had
to endure, not to mention the “what if’s” of their pregnancy, purpose and God’s
plan for their lives.
Bethlehem was little,
simple and ordinary.
Mary and Joseph were
young, simple and ordinary.
Jesus came as a baby born
in a small simple and ordinary town but was an extraordinary Savior of the
World.
No matter where you are or
who you are, God sees you and will strengthen you for His purpose. Today you
can be strong again, because you serve the God of the universe who fulfills
every promise and prophecy and is trustworthy with every detail of your life.
Be encouraged today.
God chooses to use simple ordinary people and things for His glory
“The eyes of the LORD
search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully
committed to him.”
2 Chronicles 16:9
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