Not My Ways

About a year ago, my family and I were planning to take a much-anticipated out-of-state trip.  A few days before we were supposed to leave, my toddler brother started throwing up.  As the bug slowly went through the rest of the family, we hoped that this would not change our plans.  Eventually, however, it was clear that some of us were not going to be able to make the trip.


Needless to say, this was not what we had planned.


This was not what I had planned.


For centuries, the Jewish people had waited for the promised Messiah.  Ideas and expectations abounded as the conquered people hoped for a majestic Jewish ruler to restore greatness to their nation.  Many, especially the zealots, expected a great and mighty man to come in the greatness of physical power, and he would show the world that the Jews were God's people - invincible conquerors.  The zealots were looking for the Messiah in high and powerful places.


They weren't looking in a manger.


Mary and Joseph were a devout couple with godly plans for the future - their future.  As a God-fearing couple, their plans for their future together were good plans: they desired to bring glory to God with their lives.  But it only took one verse, and all those good plans and dreams came crashing down.


Mary and Joseph didn't expect to be making the arduous journey to Bethlehem.  Mary didn't expect to place her firstborn in a cattle trough.  As poor citizens in an occupied land, Mary and Joseph didn't expect to have to flee to Egypt when the king of the land pursued them.  Mary and Joseph didn't expect to be told, "'And a sword will pierce your own soul, too'" (Luke 2:35).


"Christmas" didn't meet Mary and Joseph's or the zealots' expectations.  Christmas really didn't meet any human's expectations.  But God never consults man about His eternal plan; God writes our stories, not us.


I may never know why God kept us home that week.  Mary and Joseph may not have understood some aspects of God's plan for their lives until they reached heaven.  Many of the zealots probably never figured it out, either.  God's plans are always way above our plans, and it's His plans that are best.


Merry Christmas.