December 15, 2023: Miracles Veiled in Mystery

Miracles Veiled in Mystery

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“So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.””

‭‭Micah‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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Bethlehem, a small town, but brimming with life in this moment. It’s resources overdrawn and it’s establishments overcrowded. This is the moment the Lord chose for His deity to be made flesh.

The omnipotent Creator of the universe assumes human flesh and is born poor, in the lowest of circumstances. Jesus, birthed in a stable filled with animals and their excrement, and laid in a manger of poverty. A servant to all. A sacrifice for all.

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““Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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Ephrathah means fruitful but it is derived from the Hebrew word: aper which means covering.  Some theologians believe Bethlehem Ephrathah refers to a unique agricultural site near Bethlehem. Specifically, a field outside of  Bethlehem called the field of David.  This field was donated by David to the temple priests to raise special sheep.

Bethlehem was David’s ancestral home. The land of the field possibly from his family’s lineage or where he was a shepherd himself. David longed to build God’s temple, but was told by God to wait. (Psalm 132, 2 Samuel 7) So instead David invested and made preparations for the temple his son Solomon would build, one preparation being this field.

Temple sheep were raised on this land, these lambs were to be spotless, without blemish, and used for the daily sacrifices. In particular the Passover Lamb, the most important sacrifice of the Jewish year, would have come from the flock in David’s field.

Essentially, these lambs were the sacrificial covering for sin, thus the field became known as Bethlehem Ephrathah, meaning “covering”- a unique agricultural location.

This is all juxtapose but if this is true, then Micah foretold God’s intention for our Messiah to be born not just in Bethlehem,  but in the field, and in a manger. The spotless Lamb of God, the sacrifice to cover all sin, born where all sacrificial lambs were born.

This is wild to me, jaw-dropping and uttered wows inducing to me. I mean, I completely believe God is able to perform miracles. But it feels slightly different to see one unfold. To have the veil of mystery pulled back and revealed.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for revealing that some miracles are hidden until you reveal them. I am incredibly grateful to know that You Heavenly Father care about the most minute details and are able to not just know them but tend to them-answer them.

Get together with someone you love but haven't seen in awhile. Go out of your way. Make an effort. Be intentional.

Between you and me, I'm believing that there were veiled miracles in the date I shared here with you today. Will you believe with me?

Photos taken at Mader's restaurant in downtown Milwaukee.

#advent2023