But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Micah 5:2 ESV
This prophecy by Micah was not fulfilled until over 600 years later. How was it fulfilled?
Luke tells us that “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world” (Luke 2:1)
For Caesar Augustus, the world’s most powerful man at the time, his goal for declaring a census was likely two-fold. First, he needed to know the number of able-bodied men who could serve as soldiers in cases of war. Knowing this vital statistic was a way of intimidating enemies. The second reason is probably for economic planning and taxation. The second reason was likely for economic planning and taxation. Censuses help the government to know the size of the available workforce and plan tax seasons effectively.
While Caesar Augustus thought he was in control and making political and fiscal decisions, God was behind the scenes, orchestrating the fulfilment of the word He spoke over 600 years earlier. Because of this census, “…everyone went to their own town to register” and this became the opportunity for God to fulfil his word. “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. 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 guest room available for them” (Luke 2:4-7)
As a university student, I once had a lecturer who decided to schedule lectures for the same time as our departmental fellowship, knowing that I was the president. After much effort to help the lecturer see why it couldn’t hold, I made up my mind that the fellowship would not stop, no matter the implications. I had to miss the lecture for an entire semester and the lecturer promised before the whole class that I would fail. Two days after the exam, the same lecturer met me and claimed to be looking for my script to be used as a marking guide! Whatever happened, this person seemed to have forgotten all about the threat of failure publicly directed at me, and somehow, I finished that course with distinction.
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Proverbs 21:1). When we understand that God rules over the affairs of men, and that He is the one in control even when it seems as though there is a man controlling things, we will have peace. Understanding God’s sovereignty in all situations will cause the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, to rule our hearts.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you for your all sufficient power by which you rule over the affairs of men. Please Lord, help me to always remember in every situation that you reign and you are at work.
