“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.”

– MICAH 5:2 NASB –

Oh, the specificity of Scripture.  Jesse, David, and Joseph were all born in Bethlehem – also called “The City of David.”  And now we see a Ruler – One from all Eternity – the Messiah will be born there as well.

Bethlehem is normally only a small village, but due to the census ordered by Caesar Augustus, it had greatly swelled in size and activity that first Christmas night.  This hardly noticeable, humble village had suddenly become eternally significant.  Luke tells us:

“And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David: to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.” Luke 2:3-5 KJV

Luke takes time to detail both the how and the why Joseph and Mary were forced to leave the northern part of Israel (Galilee/Nazareth) and travel 100 miles south (Judea/Bethlehem) even while Mary was “great with child.”  Truly a difficult time physically to make this trip, but it was God, not Caesar, who sovereignly orchestrated this journey as we see ancient prophecy divinely converge on Bethlehem.

“Bethlehem” just happens to mean “House of Bread.”  And so, on that not so silent night, the Bread of Life was born in the House of Bread as that little town of Bethlehem became a divine bakery.  But soon, the Bread of Life would be broken so that, in Him, we could be made whole.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15 NASB

O COME LET US ADORE HIM!