A Story of the Unexpected

Jerusalem — now that was a town! Protected by walls and at the crossroads of commerce, it was the place to be. People in distant lands knew about Jerusalem. But who knew about Bethlehem? It was a nowhere place, just a small, obscure village about six miles south of the local metropolis.

If one were looking for a leader, the natural place to start would be the big city of Jerusalem. One would never look among the hayseeds of Bethlehem. But Bethlehem is where God’s choice fell. The Spirit of the Lord led the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem. There God directed him to Jesse’s youngest son, David, to be anointed king of Israel, even though King Saul still occupied the throne.

Centuries later the Spirit of God led the prophet Micah to prophesy that from Bethlehem would come One who “will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity” (Mic. 5:2).

Even in the midst of this great announcement, the prophet had to specify which Bethlehem. There was another in Galilee. Ephratah referenced the clan from which Jesse and David came (1 Sam. 17:12), and the clan lived in Bethlehem.

The village was a still, small and obscure village when Micah wrote. The prophet declared the place “too little to be among the clans of Judah” meaning the village could not field enough men to be counted in a military campaign.

The description of chapter 4 and the first verse of chapter 5 is that the Davidic kingdom had ceased. “With the rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.” But Micah declares that another will come forth from Bethlehem like David before Him. Isaiah conveys the same thought with different words. He declares in Isaiah 11:1 that “A shoot will spring from the stump of Jesse.”

Half a millennium after Micah’s prophecy, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He was a new shoot from the stump of Jesse. Jesus’ earthly lineage was traced through Joseph, who the Bible says “was of the household of David.” From this out-of-the-way village came Israel’s greatest king. Then came the One who was David’s King as well. “His going forths are from long ago, from the days of eternity” (Mic. 5:2b).

But Bethlehem was still an out-of-the-way place. When the wise men came looking for the One whose star shone brightly in the sky, they first went to Jerusalem. Isn’t that where a new king should be? It was only after scholars searched the dusty scrolls of Scripture that the seekers were directed to that wide place in the road called Bethlehem.

The ironies were just beginning. This new king was not found in a palace but in a stable. He was not surrounded by the trappings of wealth and power but signs of a simple life — shepherds, farm animals, a feeding trough for a bed and some straw for a mattress.

Here was the Infinite — the shoot of Jesse whose goings forth are from the days of eternity — in the form of an infant. Here was the One from eternity born of a woman. Here was the One who was heir to all things born as a carpenter’s son. Here was the One whose death on a cross would conquer sin. Here He was, in Bethlehem of all places.

Later Jesus would call Nazareth His home. Like Bethlehem, it was an out-of-the-way village. The metropolis of that area was Zipporah, named for Moses’ wife. It lies just a little west of Nazareth. Archaeology attests to the wonders of that city. Not Nazareth. There people lived mostly in caves with rocks piled together to shelter the entrances.

Is it any wonder that people asked about Jesus, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

But God’s greatest gift came from Nazareth as well as Bethlehem. He came to make a “new Adam” — a new mankind. His message was not a message to improve one’s self or “turn over a new leaf” on life. He came to transform mankind.

Jesus did not come demanding sacrifices. He came offering a gift, the gift of eternal life through repentance and faith. Jesus did not come forcing Himself on the world. Rather He offered Himself to all who would receive His gift.

This is not the story of “natural things being done in natural ways.” It is a story of the unexpected, of God doing unexpected things in unexpected ways — an obscure village, a stable, a virgin, an infant, a cross, a resurrection, forgiveness, eternal life for all who will believe on the name of Jesus.

God always seems to do the unexpected.