“And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.”
Luke 2:6
In God’s Providence there are no coincidences or accidents.
“And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.”
Luke 2:6
“The days were accomplished that she should be delivered.”
Here they were. . .hundreds of miles from home. . .in an overcrowded, “no-room-in-the-end” city. . .and the labor pains start. They were afraid this would happen when they left Nazareth headed to Bethlehem for the required census and taxation.
But, inwardly they’d hoped God would wait.
Wait until they’re at least back home in their own house. Wait until they were back with family and friends, who could assist them in their delivery and be there to rejoice with them when the Promised Child was born. Wait until Mary could give birth in her own bed and have others help her with the household chores.
But, it didn’t happen that way. Even as things so often don’t happen as we expected or inwardly desired.
No, “the days were accomplished (Grk. ‘pletho’—‘fulfilled, filled up, come to completion or fruition, etc.’) that she should be delivered.” And, without their likely realizing it, the “accomplished days” were also a part of God’s “approved Plan.”
How is that?
Simply because the prophet Micah had predicted long before that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2). Matthew realized this when he penned his Gospel under the Holy Spirit’s leadership and included it in his account of Jesus’ birth (Mt. 2:6). So, Jesus’ birth in that city so far from Nazareth was a fulfillment both of prophecy and promise.
Second, Bethlehem was the ancestral home of King David (I Sam. 17:12), from whose bloodline the long-awaited Messiah would be born. And, it was also the place where Samuel anointed David as king (I Sam. 16:1-13).
Bethlehem was also the burial place for Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife (Gen. 35:19) and the original home for Naomi and her family, as well as the setting for the beautiful love story between Ruth and Boaz (Ruth 1:19ff).
Thus, we should not be surprised that Jesus’ birth occurred in Bethlehem, even though it may have seemed an inconvenience or further hardship to Mary and Joseph. We must always remember “God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts” (Is. 55:9). They are always perfect in purpose and timing (Dt. 32:4; II Sam. 22:31; Ps. 18:30; Rom. 12:2).
That’s why we should always “capture our thoughts (feelings) and bring them to Jesus’ feet” (II Cor. 10:5) when “things are going wrong”—for our loving Heavenly Father has either directed or allowed them for a Purpose. And, it’s only when we “love Him and know we’re called according to His Purpose/Plan that we’ll also know He’s working EVERYTHING together for our good and His Glory” (Rom. 8:28). Amen and amen.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated December 22, 2009
