“She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there
was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 (NIV)
Have you ever thought of the innkeeper and his role in the
story of the birth of Jesus?
Travelers over ran the town of Bethlehem all because of
Caesar Augustus decreed that a census be taken. The head of each family across
the land had to be accounted for; each one had to go to the city where he was
born.
Can you envision it, people sleeping in doorways, along the
streets, and in the park? The inns were filled to overflowing.
Each inn could have used the common area to accommodate
those pouring in from everywhere imaginable. We don’t know how many places
Joseph sought out seeking some place for Mary to rest.
One innkeeper surveyed the situation and, busy as he was,
told Joseph that all he had was the stable in back. This innkeeper might have
worked long hours; his family may have had to help with the rooms and niches in
the inn where people slept. They might have even given up their own rooms in
order to take in a few more travelers. The innkeeper might not have done this
out of the goodness of his heart; he might have thought of the bottom line-how
much more money he might receive. But God used him anyway.
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It's interesting to view the story from different perspectives, isn't it? I think we can gain insight this way. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Karen