Every Detail

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.  Psalm 37:23 NLT

“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.” Micah 5:2

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. Luke 2:1,6  NLT

“Even when I don’t see it, You’re working.” – Way Maker

It felt so sudden, and certainly, an unnecessary added burden. Just as this young couple was coming to terms with the “unplanned” divine Child growing in her womb, and as they maneuvered the stares and whispers of her “predicament,” the emperor issued his first-time census. Such an inconvenience, not to mention the physical toll it would take on the now, heavily pregnant, Mary. Wasn’t the LORD aware of how this days-long journey would impact Mary and Joseph?  Did this trivial, yet burdensome detail, slip through His Sovereign fingers? And as an added bonus, once the couple arrived at their destination, they were turned away, the only offering was a barn where animals slept. Had God forgotten about them?

Nope. Not even close. The Sovereign One was actually orchestrating these seemingly sudden and unexpected events, to place Mary at just the right moment (nine months pregnant!) in just the right place (Bethlehem in Judea). To give birth to the promised Messiah, in the exact location foretold hundreds of years earlier. (Micah 5:2)

Which made me think of some details in my own life. Details that look so unnecessary and an added burden to challenges already in place.

Are there events and details in your life that appear sudden, unexpected, unwanted or burdensome? Do you secretly question if He even sees you or maybe that He doesn’t concern Himself with “trivial” matters (He is God, after all, that’s a pretty demanding job description)? Does it feel like He has dropped the ball by allowing trials to slip through His divine fingers and into your life?

He has a plan. And every detail is working out His purposes for your life.

Becky White

Nope. Not even close. While there’s no miraculous, divine birth being arranged, there is the story of your life being directed, one step at a time, and His word assures is that He delights in every detail of our lives. Did you catch that? Every detail. According to His word, even events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him. Divinely fitting each piece into the plan, He has purposed. (Job 42:2).

This Christmas, as you think on the events that brought our Savior to earth, consider all the seemingly insignificant details that were exactly what was needed to fulfill the prophesies surrounding Jesus’ physical birth (I’ve only listed a few, there are hundreds). Now think on the events and details He has allowed into your life.  Whatever those events are, trust that He knows what He’s up to. He has a plan. And every detail is working out His purposes for your life.

“Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only He can see.”  – Corrie Ten Boom

Father God, I stand amazed that You take ordinary details and trials, and even adversity, to bring about Your purposes. For me. Praise You, O Most High! In Jesus’ name, Amen

Written by Becky White for the Lord Jesus

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*Micah 5:2 makes a couple of predictions. First, the birthplace of this future “ruler of Israel” would be Bethlehem Ephrathah. Since there were two locations known as Bethlehem at the time of Micah’s writing, the addition of Ephrathah is significant. It specifies the Bethlehem in Judah, the portion of Israel in which the capital, Jerusalem, was located. Bethlehem was considered “little,” or insignificant, among the cities of Judah, yet would serve as the birthplace of this future ruler.   GotQuestions.org