Introduction

As we approach the Christmas season and contemplate the incarnation, I’d like to offer some encouragement about how God sovereignly ordained all that took place in order to accomplish His plan, along with some practical applications for us looking back 2,000 years later. We serve a God that directs all things according to His will, and no one can thwart His plans!

God’s Sovereignty on Display

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the One who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” ~Matthew 1:18-20

We know from the Old Testament that the messiah must be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), but this child would still need a human father to care for him. This is where there is a huge potential problem, since any young lady found to be pregnant would not be considered marriage material. But God sends His angel to reveal to Joseph the true nature of this pregnancy, and Joseph obediently takes Mary as his wife. Pitfall avoided!

Now it happened that in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for a census to be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was going to be registered for the census, each to his own city. ~Luke 2:1-3

Old Testament prophecy once again creates a requirement for the messiah, such that he must be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). However, Bethlehem was 90 miles away from Nazareth, where Mary and Joseph resided. So the Lord directed the heart and mind of a pagan (Caesar) to conduct a census of the entire empire, such that every man must register in his own hometown. This action creates the impetus for Joseph to travel with Mary to Bethlehem, a trip that they would have never taken voluntarily.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” […] And when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And after coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi departed for their own country by another way. ~Matthew 2:1-2, 10-12

The mysterious magi from the east (perhaps from Babylon) performed a pivotal role in the Christmas story. They brought expensive gifts to the newborn king, just in the nick of time. The wicked King Herod has been driven crazy at the thought of a challenger to his throne, and he would stop at nothing to prevent the messiah’s rise to power. So, God sends a star to guide the magi to where the child would be found, and the gifts they bring end up sustaining the Lord and his family while Herod seeks to put Jesus to death.

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” ~Matthew 2:13

As soon as the magi had left, an angel commands Joseph to leave Judea and seek refuge in Egypt, until such time that Herod dies. Jesus’ life is sustained by the provisions that have just been received as well as preserved from the evil tyrant seeking to defeat the Lord’s plan.

Concluding Thoughts

So we see from just these few examples that our God does not passively take in knowledge, hoping against hope that His plan would come to fruition. No, the Lord’s plans will always come to pass, for our good if we are trusting in His Son for salvation (Romans 8:28)! He may be using more natural means, and His angels may look more like a loving friend or parent, but you can trust that He is just as involved in your life today, as He was in the birth of His Son. Merry Christmas to you, HCS families, and God bless!

By: Aaron Kemp, HCS Board Member