Sometimes God’s perfect plan is messy…
It is our tradition on Christmas morning to read Luke 2 and have a small prayer time before we open gifts. As I was reading it this past year I was struck by something that I never noticed before. The part in verse 7 which says …”and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Of course I’ve heard this preached a hundred times.
But it struck me when I read it this time: Why wasn’t there room in the inn? We know God had this event planned since Adam sinned. Scripture tells us it happened in the fullness of time. Meaning everything was fully ripe. God is a detailed and practical God. He knew Jesus needed to be born in Bethlehem, so He inspired the census so Joseph and Mary had to go there. Why didn’t he arrange to have an open room at the inn?
My insight doesn’t answer that question. My insight is that when things don’t fall perfectly into place it doesn’t mean that God isn’t behind the plan or that we have somehow “missed” it. Sometimes God’s perfect plan is messy.
Mary and Joseph were right in the center of God’s will and plan and yet there was no room for them in the inn. We like it when all the pieces fit perfectly. Sometimes that happens. But I think as we grow in our walk with the Lord the waters often are muddier. This is a good thing. It helps us increase our faith, and it also helps us keep from putting God in a box.
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