God’s plan in our lives usually unfolds in the most unexpected ways, doesn’t it? Have you ever thought, “Well, that is not at all how I would have expected things to go!” God’s ways our higher than our ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. That’s why it so important to continue trusting that his perfect plan will unfold in our season of silence and waiting in HIS way and in HIS perfect time.
Remember: Luke 2:8-18
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. - Luke 2:11-18
A sign is proof of a divine revelation. God gave the shepherds a sign to authenticate the pronouncement that a Savior had been born in the city of David who IS Christ the Lord. He didn’t ask them to believe without evidence. This was proof that without a doubt, this was an unlikely king. What other king would be lying in a feeding trough for animals? What other king would be born in such a humble place? There would be no question that they had found the right baby that night, because no other baby would be lying in such a random place.
I often wonder, how did they find him? Did they ask around? Did they take along their flock? Would there have been a clue in the swaddling cloths and manger that they would know exactly where to find him? It’s something to think about.
There are many theories about this, none of which we can hold with confidence, because the Scripture simply does not say. But one worth pondering with wonder is the prophecy in Micah 4:8. Micah also prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem a few verses later in Micah 5:2:
And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem. - Micah 4:8
Tower of the Flock was a place. A place where a king would come. An actual place called Migdal Eder. It’s a biblical location near Bethlehem where Jacob camped after Rachel’s death (Genesis 35:21). Later, it is known historically as a location used as a watchtower for shepherds to guard the special flock that was set apart for the spotless, unblemished lambs kept for the temple sacrifices. In this tower, was a rough place where the animals were kept and protected for sacrifice.
Again, we can not know this for certain, because the Scripture simply does not say. But imagine if it was so. The shepherds would have recognized the clue in the mention of a manger. The first place they might check is Migdal Eder.
What If?
What if Mary and Joseph landed here when there was no room found for them to stay? What if Mary gave birth to the Savior who is set apart for sacrifice in Midgal Eder, a protective place for sacrificial lambs? What if swaddling him with cloths signified the sacrifice he would endure on the cross, his lifeless body wrapped in cloth and laid in a rough hewn cave for his burial? What if the shepherds knew exactly where to go and that’s why the Scripture says, “And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.”? What if these were not just ordinary shepherds? What if they were temple shepherds assigned to protect and care for the flock set aside for sacrifices? What if?
Did they know exactly where to look? Yes, because the angel told them: Bethlehem, the city of David. We do know God gave them a clear sign so that they would know without a doubt this was the One. We do know they were led to an unexpected place for God’s plan to unfold. A manger in Bethlehem was the last place someone would think to find a king from David’s line. This sign is unmistakeable. This was the child that is Christ the Lord. The Messiah. God himself, entering humbly into the world as a sacrifice prepared for mankind. A lowly King for the lowest.
The shepherds found baby Jesus along with Mary and Joseph and they spread the news and the people wondered. What kind of King would this be?
Reflect
Maybe you struggle in your waiting, wondering how God’s plan will unfold. Maybe you doubt his unfolding plan because it is not how you imagined it would be. In our waiting and as we witness his plan unfolding, our peace comes from trusting that he will guide us every step of the way. We watch for signs of his faithfulness with expectation. We trust the Holy Spirit’s leading. Like the shepherds, we hear the command to trust his plan — his sign — and when it’s time, we obey with haste.
Respond
Carry this breath prayer in your heart today:
Breathe In:
God, your plan is perfect
Breathe Out:
Holy Spirit, you will make it known.
The Journey
This journey will take us through December 25th. My hope is that it would bring you encouragement in whatever waiting room you find yourself in during this Advent season. Each daily podcast will be short and sweet, leaving you with something to carry in your heart as you wait. You can also subscribe to my newsletter here.
