Lk.2:1-4 – And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,

The followers of the Lord in the Old Testament followed the Lord’s instructions by the Spirit of prophecy. This is how the Lord spoke to the believers in those days, the Spirit of prophesy always preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah. The Lord had spoken hundreds of years before through the prophet Micah that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem. No matter who was in charge or what obstacles were presented the Lord would orchestrate all things so that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Augustus was just a useful heathen being used by the Lord to bring about His purposes. The census was set up to increase revenue for the Roman government, the Lord had other things in mind. The real reason there was a census was because the Lord was pulling the strings and Bethlehem was the place appointed for the Lord’s birth. Here is how John Calvin describes this event.

“Thus we see that the holy servants of God, even though they sometimes wander about, not knowing where they are going, still keep the right path, because God directs their steps. Nor is the providence of God less wonderful in employing the command of a tyrant to draw Mary from home, that the prophecy may be fulfilled. God had marked out by his prophet—as we shall afterwards see—the place where his son should be born. If Mary had not been compelled by the requirement, she would have decided to give birth at home. Augustus orders a census to be conducted in Judea, and each person to give his or her name, that they might afterwards pay an annual tax, which they were formerly accustomed to pay to God. Thus an ungodly man seizes and carries off what God was accustomed to collect from his people. It was, in effect, just as if he had prohibited the Jews from choosing for themselves to be considered the people of God.”

So learning to live by the Spirit of prophesy is critical for us today. There are always roadblocks, traps, and temptations designed to get you off course. God’s word spoken into our lives by the Spirit becomes a guarantee that God’s kingdom plans are certain. So when the Lord gives you clear direction through His word we can stand against anything because the Lord’s promises and plans are absolutely secure. Regardless of what Augustus, Herod, or the priest had planned the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The sure word of prophesy came to pass and as a result the Lord came among us and fulfilled God’s kingdom plans.