An Inconvenient Decree

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their town to register.”
(Luke 2:1-3 NIV)

Caesar got a bee in his bonnet about having a census. And what Caesar wanted, Caesar received, even if it was terribly disruptive for all involved. This was an inconvenient census: families had to report to the city of their ancestral origin. For Joesph that was a ninety mile donkey trek south with a very pregnant wife in tow. Modern censuses generally send a paper pamphlet followed up by a paid government employee at your door – far less expensive and invasive.

Caesar decreed the census, but God allowed it, even harnessed it’s inconvenience for His purposes. An emperor is powerful, but a God who redeems the decrees of a corrupt leader – well, He’s sovereign.

This gives us great hope as we sit down in small groups at Christmas dinner and as we don face masks while working and shopping. Presidents, governors and mayors may make their decrees, but the God above uses the commands of small men to accomplish divine design.

I’m sure the census season felt frustrating, expensive and unfair. I’d imagine the constituents grumbled, shook their fists, and maybe even staged a protest or two. I bet it was really tough to see or trust that God was still in control while Caesar made demands and ordinary people leapt at his command. But history pulls back the curtain for us. God was there, moving mightily through the plans of self-important people, accomplishing His hope for all people. The census repositioned the main characters to center stage: strange prophecies were fulfilled when an unreasonable ruler got his way.

I suspect that someday we will look back at 2020 with the same sort of clarity. We’ll see the power-hungry men (and women) as little more than puppets, setting the stage perfectly for what God longs to do next.

I say all this to say: don’t let politics steal your joy and peace this Christmas. It may seem that one party or another is ruling the roost but recall that God ultimately appoints it all. We remember that He is far more concerned with souls than comfort, entitlements or approval ratings. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords always has His eyes on the big picture; He’s accomplishing something of Kingdom significance even in the midst of this chaos and crisis. Slow down. Take a deep breath. And decide to put your trust in Him.

“He changes times and the seasons; He deposes kings and raises others up.” (Daniel 3:21 NIV)

“Let everyone be subject to governing authorities, for there is no authority except what God has established.” (Romans 13:1 NIV)

“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to the governors, who are sent by Him to punish those who do wrong and commend those who do right.”
(1 Peter 2:13-14 NIV)

Lord, please give us the grace to cooperate with unreasonable leadership. We recognize that You appoint and remove. We see in the Christmas story how even the terribly inconvenient can be redeemed for Your cause. We trust that You are working out Your will in 2020. We believe that You can redeem the chaos and crisis of this year for Kingdom purpose. We wait on You. Amen.