There seems to be a lot of evil in our world today. Every time I turn on the news, listen to the radio, or look at the latest feed, there are acts of violence done to the innocent. There are people committing acts of injustice I could never imagine. People steal from others in order to gain for themselves and justify their needs; whether legitimate or not. People who deserve better are mistreated and left to make it on their own. With all this going on, how can God be with us?

A long time ago, not so different from times now, in the town of Bethlehem, there seemed to be a lot of chaos. Families were having to travel from distant lands to pay their taxes. A poor girl, 9 months pregnant, had to walk about 20 miles a day for 4-5 days straight. Can you imagine this regiment when you were about ready to explode with a baby inside of you? It’s no wonder that when they arrived to Bethlehem that she was ready to have baby Jesus. Where was God during these 20-mile days?

Yet, all the other family members had already arrived in Bethlehem; no doubt because they could walk faster than a pregnant Mary. As was their custom, every family member who had an extra room had already committed them to others as they arrived. Where was God in supplying a place for Joseph and Mary among their chaos? God, afterall, was the One who told them they were to carry out the original “carrying of the gospel”.

After finding no room in a house to stay, they ended up in a cave used for shepherds and sheep. A cave where sacrificial lambs were kept for the temple in Jerusalem. A cave where there was a manger that had probably already been used to swaddle the lambs born so they wouldn’t fall, get bruised, or break their legs so they would be unblemished and ready to be sacrificed at the Temple. They were alone. Where was God in this cave?

God was preparing the way when no one could see what was going to happen. Prophecy from Isaiah 7:14 was already being fulfilled: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (NIV). Their going to Bethlehem fulfilled the prophecy of Micah 5:2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (NIV)

Let us not forget about the cave. How did the shepherds know where to find Mary and Joseph with the baby in a manger? This same cave was the one the shepherds knew of very well because it was one of their caves. A cave they no doubt had slept at the entrance in order to protect the sheep within from harm.

Where was God?

• When Joseph found out about Mary being pregnant, God provided an angel.
• When Mary found out about being pregnant, God provided an angel.
• When they traveled to Bethlehem, God provided safety from thieves and robbers.
• When things seemed hopeless with no proper lodging, God was with them in the cave preparing the way.
• When they might have felt a need for validation, God provided the shepherds to tell of their angel experience.

God was fulfilling scriptures. God was preparing the way. God was sending His son through mere humans so we might experience “God with us” when we couldn’t seem to see or feel Him. It had been a long 400 years since God had spoken through His prophets. God was ready to speak. God was ready for us to realize He is with us.

When times get tough and chaos seems to abound, we must look at what God has done in the past. We must look above the noise and see the One who is ready to hold us tight. Where is God today in your life? Do you believe?

© 2017 Susan M. Sims

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