“This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.” Luke 2:2-5
There is a lot going on in this brief passage of Scripture. Two thousand years ago, Syria was in the news, and taxes were being exacted from overburdened people. Some things never change.
As “The Christmas Story” in the Gospel of Luke unfolds, the known world was gripped in the iron claws of Pax Romana. The lives of ordinary people were thrown into chaos at the whim of Augustus, the powerful emperor in Rome. His main concern for counting his conquered people was to exact tribute from them, not to express concern for them.
With so much at stake, it just doesn’t make sense for God to allow a tyrant to demand that a woman travel cross-country in her ninth month of pregnancy. In spite of this senseless census, God was at work. Never forget. He always is.
The Governor of Syria was following orders from Caesar Augustus, again, not to count heads, but to collect taxes. Syria and Christianity have a long history. Believers of Jesus Christ would first be called Christians in Syria. Until 2015 this ancient land would be home to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Long before ISIS there have been forces of darkness who have sought to snuff out The Light.
God often wraps up some of His greatest gifts in the strangest packages, and He ties them up with the scariest ribbon. The census must have seemed senseless to Mary and Joseph. They were not alone. People all over the world were being forced from the meager comfort of their homes, and ordered to return to the location of their ancestral roots.
From my perspective, returning to my roots would require me to return to the land of the French Huguenots who came to America in the early 1700’s. To be clear, Mary and Joseph weren’t humming, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” They were on a dangerous trip and the life of their unborn child was at risk
In spite of all outward appearances, God was unfolding His redemptive plan and making sense out of the senseless. Bethlehem, The City of David, was the ancestral home of the poet -warrior King of Israel. Though a humble carpenter, Joseph could trace his roots to the threshold of royalty.
The city fathers of Bethlehem would offer no welcome mat for the weary couple, but God had them exactly where He wanted them to be. The birth of Jesus would take place in this little town, unnoticed by men, but protected by angels. Being where God wants you to be is always the safest place in the world.
NOTE TO SELF: When The Census of life does not make sense to you, step back, kneel down and pray. Prayer, not panic, provides God’s Spirit the elbowroom He wants to have in you to complete what He is doing for you. In time, prayer will make sense out of the senseless.
TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!