“The Stable“
“The son of man had no place to lay his head…”
But you’re never alone
When you’re in God’s plan…
The alarm on Joseph’s face brought sympathy from the innkeeper.
Rome’s edict had overwhelmed the tiny village with travelers in need of hospitality. Although he had no rooms, the innkeeper had one space, as yet unoccupied.
He offered his stable; the crude structure adjoining the tiny home; reserved for animal inhabitants.
Mary and Joseph were grateful. They would have shelter, as the shadows lengthened and waning rays of light gave way to nightfall.
The weary pair gratefully settled into their crude surroundings;
Animals their only companions;
Their arrival at this stable had been carefully orchestrated by the triune Godhead from ages past:
Before the universe had been spoken into existence.
Rome’s greed, and the lust for power of Caesar Augustus;
Made him a useful instrument for God’s divine purpose.
Decreeing that all the world should be taxed, every male under Roman authority was required to return to the place of their birth.
The entire Roman world was thrown into a state of upheaval:
As God the Father arranged for a simple Jewish couple to undertake the ill-timed journey to Bethlehem.
Mary and Joseph, were caught in the Roman maelstrom; unaware Caesar had become God’s unwitting accomplist:
They trusted God had ordained it so.
God’s Son must be born in Bethlehem!
This very home and this very stable; this very manger, at this very moment in time:
Just as the prophets foretold.
The cries of a newborn were soon heard amidst the animals sheltering for the night.
The road-weary couple felt alone, in a strange place …but they were not alone.
