The other day someone sent me a link to Nativity Story Video.
Reading the description I have a problem.
The good news - it sent me to the Bible.
The bad news - I would sooner watch The Santa Clause.
For a start I don't know where this 'nine months pregnant' bit comes from.
Some English versions use the word 'heavy with child' many just say 'with child'.
So it was clearly obvious, but to place the journey at the end of the nine months - why?
The improvised maternity suite suggests haste, but it could be that other visitors, who considered their needs greater, had first refusal on better accomodation (whether this was the traditional inn or staying with relatives). Anyway, it was possibly a more convenient place for the shepherds' visit. God's provision for them.
How much notice did Joseph have of the impending census? What constraints did he have on his time? Looks like they were married by the time they got to Bethlehem (Matthew 1:24).
So to me this hackneyed Nativity Story is one possible scenario of how it might have played out - the scripture does not give us enough detail. BUT I can see how elements of this annual folklore can be used by God as a rhema word into particular personal cicumstances - so if God speaks to you through it, go for it!
Some months ago I was considering the trauma of the shipwreck (not the storm!) recorded in Acts 27 and Acts 28 in the light of my own situation and the things I was (am) going through.
God's promise as recorded in Acts 27:34 could be interpreted that they just walked up the shore as if nothing had happened! As I have refered to elsewhere I do not have a testimony like that. Instead I was imagining that each of them was washed ashore battered, bruised, beaten and clinging onto their own piece of wood - even the strongest swimmers among them may given up by that time.
Once ashore the locals helped (dragged?) them to a camp fire, wrapped them in emergency blankets and looked after them for a few days.
The miracle is that the battering and bruising was the worst thing that happened. God promised to save the lives of everyone on the ship ( Acts 27:23-24) and everyone reached the shore safely ( Acts 27:44). God did not take them out of the trauma of the shipwreck, he took them through the trauma of the shipwreck.
The assumption I made on reading "everyone reached the shore safely" was that I would get my wife back! I did not, but she is safe! I do not need to hope that she is safe, as some suggest (1thess4v13). I know she is.
The hope I need is that I will get through the next X years until I join her, together with those around me. In time to come we will look back and see that "everyone reached the shore safely" as God has promised.
Pondering God's promises? Wondering where they are?
Are you looking too hard, not looking at all, looking through your own filters?
Watch this : Jesus in His Past.