No Room in the Inn

Crowds filled the streets of the small mid-eastern village. The faces in the narrow streets were those of men weary from long journeys and strained to the breaking point by the politics of the day. Instead of a joyful holiday spirit a tone of hostility and discontent could be heard in every passing conversation.

“No Vacancy” read the sign on the local inn, as the population of their tiny village had just risen far beyond their ability to house the masses called there for the census.

Into this uncertain scene came a young couple whose lives would forever alter the history of mankind, though only their look of peaceful acceptance made them stand out in the crowd. The young man helped his wife gently from the donkey upon which she had been traveling. Though “heavy with child,” the young woman appeared to be little more than a child herself. Walking together, leading their donkey through the crowded streets, it became evident that the long journey had brought on early labor pains for this young woman. Looking for lodging, they found none. Unfortunate circumstances…

This sounds a bit odd, does it not, that this would be the story of “an eventful birth in Bethlehem.” Could this be the story of the birth of a Man who would be esteemed down through the ages? Do the circumstances of this story lead you to believe that this child is somehow especially “blessed by God”? It sounds rather like the opposite, doesn’t it? If divinity can control circumstances and providence make everything work out well for us, why does the story not go on to at least have this young couple taken in by those in the castle on the hill and given the master bedroom with many attending midwives to aid them in the birth of the child?

But, not this story.

It goes on to tell of how they meet with no hospitality in this Middle Eastern town where hospitality is supposed to be an integral part of their culture. After searching in vain for a place for his young wife to rest, the man was forced to take the only option offered to him. They would spend the night in the stable with the animals and hope the discomfort his wife was feeling would go away after a little rest. As the night sky filled with stars and the young man and woman settled in among the animals, the increase in birth pangs signaled that the “fullness of time” had come. He would be the only midwife for his young wife and the observing sheep and donkeys would be his only assistants. As it is historically recorded, the baby boy was born that starry night. The mother and child endured the delivery safely and Yoceph could find only the feed trough (manger) for a baby bed in which to lay this special newborn.

Thankfully it was a warm night, being in the fall rather than the traditional midwinter date that was later interjected into the story.[1] Had the other details of this night not been so carefully recorded those surely would have also been altered in order to make this eventful birth look more “fitting” to the occasion. After all, this newborn is reported to have been the “savior of the world,” the “son of God.” So, why would He have to be born in such poverty and privation? Why did things not work out better for Him? If you look more into the story you will see that the whole life for this newborn son held hardship, and ended in a very gruesome death. Yet men celebrate this eventful birth with such delight that anyone who does not enter in is characterized as a “grinch or scrooge.” But is there a meaning in all these circumstances that we may be missing as we view the lovely and peaceful “manger scene” on the front lawn of the courthouse as we rush by on our way to do our last minute shopping? Should we look deeper into the details of this eventful birth to see if divine providence actually played a role in allowing the hardships? Could the streets of our busy lives be too busy to welcome Him were He to arrive unexpectedly? Could the uncertain times we live in cause us to close our doors? Were the world to have put out the welcome sign to these weary travelers how different the history of this planet could have been.