The Decree That Changed History
“And
it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made
when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 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 Judaea, 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 2:1-5)
Today’s Morsel: Caesar probably had no idea that His decree to tax everyone
helped to complete the prophecy that the Prophets had spoken of about Jesus. Micah had prophesied, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah,
though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he
come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been
from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2) Since Mary was chosen to
birth God’s son and the place that the prophets had spoken of that He would be
born, Mary would need to be at that location before giving birth to fulfill
prophecy. And
since Joseph was of the lineage line of David, he would be forced to take his
wife and go to the city of David. And so God moved on Caesar to implement a tax decree that would force
them to Bethlehem. As the apostle Peter would write, “Knowing this first, that
no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy
came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)
God always knows where we need to be to fulfill His word. Just wait,
watch, and see. He will never fail.
Sing: Where He leads me, I will
follow. Where He leads me, I will follow. Where He leads me, I will
follow; I’ll go with Him, with Him, all the way.
Thought For Today: His word will not
return void.
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