Here’s what’s amazing about what you’re going to read today. It all fulfills prophetic words in the Old Testament. People have been saying the Messiah was going to come from David’s line in Bethlehem during the reign of a “fourth kingdom” (Daniel 2:40). Daniel 2:44 says “And in the days of those kings the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,”
The Roman Empire is in its fourth monarchy during this time. Its kings had extended itself further than ever, taking over more land, more people, more jurisdictions/countries/cities. It called itself “the empire of the whole world/earth.”
Verse 1 says that Caesar Augustus, who is the Emperor, wanted all the world to come to register to pay taxes to him. They were just registering at this point and some believe that the reason he wanted people from all the nations he had just taken over (Judea, where Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth was one of them) to come to register for their taxes was to puff up his pride, so he could look at all the numbers of people who would be paying him taxes and feel proud. Because they were from the family line of David, they had to report to the hometown of David, which is Bethlehem, also known as the city of David. It’s about 90 miles away from Nazareth, by foot.
Verse 4 says Joseph went to Bethlehem with Mary to register. From Nazareth to Bethlehem is over 100 miles away. It’s going to take them about a week to walk there. Want to hear something interesting? In Genesis 49:10 Jacob receives a prophecy that says the Messiah will come when the ruler of Judah changes. Here it is. Judea is being taken over and this is the first tax in Judah.
Another interesting note. In Micah 5:2, it foretells the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.
It’s amazing to me to see how God places Mary and Joseph in the place that they need to be for all of God’s prophesies and words to come true from the past. When Mary received word from the angel Gabriel that she was going to give birth to the son of God, besides asking how it’s possible for a virgin to give birth, she could have said, “well how can the Messiah be born in Bethlehem like the prophesies say when I live in Nazareth.” But God divinely orchestrated for Mary to be in Bethlehem, which by the way, she was not there for a good reason but it was the reason God chose to use to get her there to fulfill His Word. God can orchestrate bad circumstances to work for our good and fulfill His plan, His Word for our lives. God will order all things to fulfill His Word. So read His promises for your life, that is His Word for You. And believe that He will orchestrate all the things around you and in you to fulfill it.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are amazing! You are faithful to work Your Word out in our lives. Everything You have said in the Bible is true and always finds its way to fulfillment in our lives. Help me to believe Your promises for my life and act like they are true. Help me to live fully confident that what You said about me and for me will come to pass just as You said. You alone are in control. You alone hold all authority over this life. You alone are good and have good things for me. Thank You, Jesus, for being proof of God’s goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.