December 22, 2023: The Humble Little City

"'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" (Matthew 2:6, ESV)
 
When Herod asked the religious leaders of his day where Christ would be born, they quoted Micah 5:2, saying Bethlehem. Why Bethlehem? Because the scriptures made it clear through the prophet Micah that the Messiah, Jesus, would be born there. And that He would be of the lineage of David. Even though Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, God saw fit to bring them to Bethlehem so that Jesus would be born there.

Bethlehem was such an insignificant little city for something so big to take place. Why? This is how God does things, so we cannot boast of our greatness. Bethlehem could not boast of its glory and strength; therefore, the Messiah was born there. God wanted everyone to know that this was His doing and not the achievements of men. 

God chose a stable so the innkeeper could not boast. God chooses insignificant Bethlehem to prove, once again, that man's achievements count for nothing. Hear these words of Paul: "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. ” (1 Corinthians 1:27–31, ESV)

May Christmas remind us of the exalted place of humility.