“God’s Providence At Work”

Good Morning, turn in your Bibles with me to Luke chapter 2. Today we are going to look at the birth of Christ and even more strategically that God was providentially at work behind the scene of all of this. Would you stand with me today for the reading of God’s Word.

Luke 2:1–7 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

This is the reading of the very Word’s of God!

As we begin our time this morning one of the things we have seen is that down through history and especially in our culture we see how glamorized and even “Hollywoodized” Mary and Joseph are painted to be. Down through history there have been many artist who have made this couple into a mystic couple by painting or drawing halos around their heads. But we see in Scripture another picture, because what we see is just ordinary people. Scripture tells us that Joseph was a simple carpenter and Mary was a young girl from a simple background. The only thing that was beyond ordinary was there extraordinary faith. In all likelihood, Joseph and Mary were very young, probably in their teens, because marriages during this time were arranged at began at a young age.

Their lives were forever changed when we read in Luke 1 and verse 26 where an archangel named Gabriel announced to Mary that should would have a son. What we see here is that Mary’s faith was incredible. She came to understand that her pregnancy and her life had been uniquely blessed by God.

Luke 1:48–49 ESV

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

Joseph too shows us a great example of faith as he discovers that Mary was going to have a baby he accepts this news and what God had for their lives. Think about how much gossip must have spread about this couple? Think about the lies and cruel things said, however Joseph and Mary remained steadfast even though they did not fully understand the fullness of God’s plan in the midst of all of this. They followed God as God was orchestrating His good plan behind everything. The title of our message this morning is, “God’s Providence At Work.”

Providence = The word providence does not appear anywhere in the Bible, however this word truly represents biblical doctrine. It means that God is all governing and all pervasive. God governs over the smallest of things, like the birds in the air to a much larger scale like the stars in the sky.

God provides! When we look back to the Old Testament we see how God was working and how He provided a ram that was got in a thicket for Abraham so that he did not have to kill his son Isaac. Joseph was sold into slavery and then put into prison only to rise to be second in command over all of Egypt and God provided. Eventually, God saw that His Son would die on a Cross, but this too provided salvation for those who would trust in Christ for forgiveness of sin.

The doctrine of providence tells us that the world and our lives are ruled not by chance or fate, but by God, who lays bare his purposes of providence in the incarnation of his Son.

3 Ways that we see the Providence of God

1. God’s Providence was at work behind human authority.

Luke 2:1–3 ESV

(Government and Rulers)

The opening words of chapter two speak about real people (Rulers) and real things that happened “in those days.” In other words, this was no fairy tale or once upon a time story, these were actual events that took place and Luke wants us to see the details involved. Luke wants us to know that Jesus would be born at a specific time, in the fulness of time; at a specific place, in the village of Bethlehem; and for a specific mission, to save His people from their sins.

In those days surrounding the birth of Christ we see that when Jesus is born, Israel is under the Rule of Rome. The grandnephew and later adopted son and designated heir of Julius Caesar, Augustus was recognized as sole leader of the Roman world in 27 B.C. He was known for restoring Roman rule and was given much honor so much so that he was considered to be more of a god than human. In fact many during this time considered him to be divine. The name “Augustus” itself identified him as possessing divine characteristics. So, Caesar Augustus issues a census, and this census was not a welcomed thing for the Jewish people, because it was a reminder of the allegiance required of Israel as they had been conquered by Rome.

The business of census-taking really grew out of attempts to put into regular practice of collecting taxes, especially the poll tax in the Roman provinces. We know very little today about all that went into the practices surrounding the census but we do know that Israel was very much opposed to this mainly because of the heavy burden imposed on them. But behind all of these rules, regulations and census to be registered, God was working in His providence to bring Joseph and Mary too Bethlehem.

My point is that just because there may be human rulers and authority in place does not mean that there is an invisible power behind and over these earthly rulers. God used Caesar Augustus and Quirinius who functioned as a military governor or commander-in chief in Syria to fulfill what He had promised long ago. In fact 400 years before the birth of Christ we see in Micah chapter 5 that God told His people that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judea.

Micah 5:2 ESV

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

God used the emperor’s census to move Mary and Joseph back to Joseph’s hometown which was Bethlehem. Verse 3 tells us here that all went to be registered, each to his own town.

I want to encourage you today to think with me that God’s people do not need to fear the laws of men, even when they don’t make sense or add up, we need to be reminded that God is still in control and has a plan over earthly rulers and their laws. God and His laws are still here to guide us, even when men rule for their own ends and often evil and ungodly ends, God is still at work to fulfill His plan. Someday the Lord will return and He will come to settle those injustices. He will come not as a humble king riding on a donkey, but as a warrior king riding on a white stallion. As believers we look forward to this day. As we await the Lord’s return we are reminded however that God even now is working behind it all.

2. God’s Providence was at work behind a human couple.

Luke 2:4–5 ESV

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

(Mary and Joseph)

From the bigger scope of things that was happening in all of the world, we now begin to move to God’s work with this young couple. As Caesar Augustus appears to be sovereign over the whole world and issues a decree that all would travel to their home town to participate in the Roman Empire’s tax burden, we know that God was at work, because He had a plan. A higher purpose was at work than just that of Caesar.

So, what do we know about Mary and Joseph? We don’t know a lot about Mary other than the fact that she had a sister named Salome and she was related to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Her early life was spent in Nazareth and she was probably from a poor family. But, we do know a lot about her character.

Luke 1:38 ESV

38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Mary had a very mature faith and submitted to God’s plan for her life. When you think about God’s sovereign choice of Mary to be the mother of Jesus it is rather astonishing. Out of all the women in the world God could have chosen a queen, princess, or a daughter of a wealthy family and yet God choose a young woman from an obscure village. As good and godly as Mary was she was still a sinner in need of God’s grace just like you and I. Mary knew she didn’t deserve God’s grace so she praised Him and even call Him her Savior.

Luke 1:47 ESV

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Why would God choose Mary and not someone else? Well it was not because she was perfect, but because it suited God’s good pleasure and perfect plan. The issue was not Mary’s individual worthiness or human merit, it was God’s sovereign choice.

On the other side of the coin, what do we know about Joseph? In Matthew chapter 13 and verse 55 we know that Joseph is called a carpenter and he worked hard for a living. We also know that he was a godly man of faith. He was a righteous man.

Matthew 1:19 ESV

19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

Joseph loved Mary. In the scandal and suspicion that hung over Mary he still took her at his wife. Why? Because in the Lord’s divine providence and wonderful grace He sent an angel who appeared to Joseph in a dream and helped make sense of why Mary was with child. All of this gave Joseph a great assurance to take Mary as his wife.

So, Roman law did not require for a man to bring his wife to register for the census, but I think we can clearly understand why Joseph brought Mary with him. She was with child, she was getting ready to have a baby Ya’ll. This was serious business because any day little baby Jesus could come and Joseph knew that he had to be there to take care of Mary so she could not be left alone.

But there was another reason for this and ultimately the bigger purpose was because this news had been declared from all eternity that the baby would be born in Bethlehem.

Like many other families during this time, Joseph went to his own town, and here in verses 4-5 we see exactly what this was all about. It was important for the Jews to know their line of descent or their family tree. This would have meant, his ancestral town or place or origin. It is clear from Matthew chapter 1 as well as here in Luke 2 that the house and family line of Joseph was from the line of David. In 1 Samuel we are told that Bethlehem is called David’s city.

1 Samuel 20:6 ESV

6 If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.’

It was there in Bethlehem that David was born, and it was there that he watched over his father’s sheep. In fact, for a long time David and his relatives held a yearly sacrifice and feast. This would have been much like a great family reunion like we know of today. With all of this in mind, we can assume that it was there in Bethlehem that the family records were kept.

We know that both Joseph and Mary were of the line or family background of the tribe of Judah and specifically the family of David. So, they are traveling from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem. This would have been a very difficult journey for Mary in her final days of her pregnancy. This journey would have been around 70-90 miles and would have put a huge strain on her. But, in all of this Luke wants us to see here that Joseph is fulfilling the Scriptures and thus he is actually fulfilling God’s own purpose.

Luke 1:32 ESV

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

It is important for us to keep in mind here that on one level we know that of course as Joseph and Mary begin their travels and head toward Bethlehem, their journey is because of the mighty decree by Caesar Augustus. However, on the other hand, even the rule and authority of Augustus is subordinate to another purpose, which is the aim or plan of God Almighty.

As Mary accompanies Joseph we know that they are now officially married. Luke tells us that even though they are betrothed or married they have not consummated their marriage because Mary’s pregnancy has occured through the working of the Holy Spirit.

3. God’s Providence was at work with a humble beginning.

Luke 2:6–7 ESV

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

(Christ in the Manger)

The phrase here, “While they were here” fulfilled that Jesus was indeed born in Bethlehem. This great event took place while Mary and Joseph were there. And this birth occurred in the fulness of time.

Galatians 4:4 ESV

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

In other words, on God’s timetable not mans, God the Father sent His Son into this world to be our Savior.

So, the time came for Mary to give birth. The entrance of Jesus into this world came against the beautiful backdrop of humble beginnings. Notice here that Luke tells us there was no place, there was no room in the inn. The reason so often given for this was because of all the folks coming into town to be registered, but there would have also been many officials and soldiers of the Roman government which would have stayed there as well. None the less, there was no room either with family or at the inn for Mary and Joseph.

The Lord’s beginnings started in a lowly manger where He was wrapped in rough bandage-like strips of cloth that kept him from scratching himself and He was placed in a feeding trough where animals were fed. My point in explaining this to you today is so that we can see that Jesus was born in a stable, not in a beautiful palace. Jesus was placed in a feeding trough for animals and not in an ornate bassinet. The Lord started off in a place of poverty and not royalty.

Matthew Henry comments here, “But when we by faith view the Son of God being made man and lying in a manger, our vanity, our ambition, and our envy are checked. We cannot, with this object rightly before us, seek great things for ourselves or our children.”