Experiencing God’s Sovereignty
Her tiny body shakes uncontrollably with each cry that emanates from her
lungs. Strapped in a car seat, her head alternates between bobbing from chin to
chest and jerking straight up – each time with a beleaguered wail. She rubs her
eyes sleepily as tears trickle down her rosy cheeks.
The couple, faces illuminated only by the glow of the instrument panel
lights, exchange weary glances…and continue down the night-enshrouded highway.
Construction detours plague their path. Their simple plan has gone awry. They
left at 6:30 with the intent of driving ninety minutes to the next town to
spend the night. But the indigo green numbers on the dashboard tell a different
tale as they scream out “11:00 p.m.!” “It wasn’t supposed to be like this,”
they wonder aloud.
Did Mary and Joseph have similar thoughts?
Consider their journey. Within the past year they had been betrothed,
promised to each other in marriage, and were excited about a future together.
Then their trip slowly unraveled as the previously straight path began twisting
and turning around ominous bends in the road.
“Highly favored? Me?” Mary thought as the angel’s message foretold of a
child she would bear. How could her mind not race with at least a tinge of
angst about the possible repercussions of an unwed pregnancy? “How can I tell
Joseph so that he will believe me?” “What will my parents think?” “The
neighbors?” “What will happen to me? “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.” Yet
her faith in God’s sovereignty sustained her even at the start of the trek, “I
am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”
And what about poor Joseph? Before they came together as husband and
wife, he found out that Mary was pregnant. What else could he conclude? Mary,
his fiancée, had been unfaithful. Talk about a detour. “It wasn’t supposed to
be like this.” Then an angel intervened and told him the truth regarding the
conception of Mary’s child. Joseph’s
faith caused him to take pregnant Mary home to be his wife.
Yet the path to parenthood had further detours.
“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be
taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place
while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to
register.” (Luke 2:1-3)
Roman rule held a throat-wrenching grasp on
the Jewish nation. Even though this was the period of the supposed Pax Romana
(Peace of Rome), it was not the ideal setting in which to birth a baby - at
least not for parents who bowed to Yahweh, the One true God. For the Romans
worshipped their emperors, and Caesar Augustus was no exception. He accepted
the title of Pontifex Maximus or Highest Priest, the head of all religious
worship. He was hailed throughout the land as the ‘savior’ and ‘god.’ Even his
birthday was considered the beginning of the good news throughout the world.
But the ruts in the road were more than
spiritual. Mary would physically feel every one of the bumps, thanks to
Augustus’ decree. Everyone went to his own town to register. The imperial edict
demanded that every male servant of the ‘savior’ be enrolled in a tax census.
Whether or not they bowed their knee to Augustus didn’t matter. A head count
was underway. The Roman IRS was on the move. And so were Joseph and Mary.
“So Joseph also went up from the town of
Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he
belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary,
who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.” (Vss. 4-5)
In obedience to the authorities God has
placed over them, they go, Mary riding sidesaddle while Joseph walks and guides
the donkey. The couple’s countenances seem to shout, “It wasn’t supposed to be
like this.” Yet they forge on. Mary
rocks side-to-side, feeling the pockmarked landscape jolting her with each step
of the animal. Joseph, brow furrowed like the landscape they travel, steals
glances at Mary – awaiting the moment. The journey is slow. The tension is high…and
then Bethlehem came into view.
Yet the sovereign detours were not over yet…“While they were there, the
time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room
for them in the inn.” (Vss. 6-7)
“Contrary to the traditional Christmas story, the ‘inn’ was probably not
an ancient hotel with rooms to rent and an innkeeper, but either a guest room
in a private residence (see 22:11) or an informal public shelter where
travelers would gather for the night. In the parable of the Good Samaritan,
Luke uses a different term for a public inn (10:34). In any case, crowded
conditions force Joseph and Mary from normal lodging to a place reserved for
animals.”[1]
How long they were in Bethlehem before the baby was born is unknown. But
the time came! Mary is heavy with child, body writhing with the surge of each
contraction. A look of desperation crosses her face when they spot the manger.
No more time. No more looking. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.” Or was it?
Jesus gave up the glory of heaven to be born in a lowly manger. Hardly
the surroundings one would expect for the King of Kings. The God of heaven who
deemed that a census should be taken so that his Son would be born in Bethlehem
could also have provided a luxurious birthplace. But that was not his plan.
The Living Water and Bread of Life
received life-sustaining nourishment from a teenaged mom, under the watchful
eye of a surrogate dad, with a feeding trough as his resting place. Remember
this next time you find yourself traveling that pock-marked path to placed
unknown. Jesus not only understands…but He is traveling with you!
Prayer
“Gracious and heavenly Father, open our eyes to the truth
that you alone place rulers on the throne and you also remove them from their
seats of power. You alone are the Sovereign Ruler of heaven and earth. Open our
eyes, Holy Spirit, to see how you have used rulers like Caesar Augustus as a
tool for your divine agenda. The one person that people thought was the savior
of the world was merely a conduit through which you birthed the true Deliverer
into the little town of Bethlehem. Help us to feel your presence as we journey
over the daily ruts of the road – when we’re often pregnant with apprehension.
Calm our fears. Let our lives be like Joseph’s and Mary’s, who willingly obeyed
those in authority over them – even when the circumstances were highly
unfavorable. Grant us the wisdom from your Word to know if a time arises when
we need to defer to your Kingship and disobey a worldly authority. Let our
knees bow to you alone, Lord Jesus! Let our attitudes be the same as yours:
‘Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to
be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.’ We desire that the ‘Vacancy’ sign burn brightly
in every area of our lives. Help us, Holy Spirit, to passionately prepare the
inn of our hearts for the return of the Anointed Traveler.” Ω
[1]
Arnold, Clinton E. (General Editor); Zondervan
Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary – Vol.1. Gran Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1978, p. 341-342.
