If God is sovereign in His purposes, His sovereignty is no less displayed in His selection of instrumentalities for their fulfillment. More than seven hundred years before the birth of Christ the prophet Micah had said in the name of Jehovah, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” That this was regarded as a prophecy of the birthplace of the Messiah is shown from the fact that it was quoted by the chief priests and scribes in answer to Herod’s question where Christ should be born. But Mary’s home was at Nazareth in Galilee, and the time was drawing near for the birth of her holy child; and lo, “it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world [the ‘habitable world’—the Roman empire] should be taxed.” The effect of this decree was that Joseph (together with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child) was compelled, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to go up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem. Little did the Roman emperor know what would be the consequence of the thought which had come into his mind. As a writer has remarked, “This act only accomplished the marvelous purpose of God, causing the Saviour-king to be born in the village where, according to the testimony of God, that event was to take place.” And what is so remarkable is that though the decree was issued, and Joseph and Mary, doubtless with many others, went to their city to be registered, it would yet appear that the census was not actually made until some time afterward, “when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.” How admirable the wisdom of God, and the perfection of His ways! God constrains the emperor to set the machinery of his empire in motion so that Joseph may be compelled to take Mary his wife to Bethlehem. What a proof it is that God still holds the reins of government in His hands, and that He turns the hearts of men whithersoever He will! The Christian believes and knows it, and he thus rests in peace in the midst of all the busy activities of men, and amid all the confusion, turbulence, and strife which prevail on every hand.