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December 13
THE STORY OF BETHLEHEM – PART 1

Scripture: Micah 5:2 “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”

     In 1867 Phillip Brooks penned the words to a beautiful son that we sing every year at Christmas. It is entitled, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”.
     The story of Bethlehem needs to be told! It is the story of a small town that produced some great events. Usually when we think of Bethlehem, we think of the birth of the Savior, but Bethlehem had an interesting history and a great future.
     Bethlehem means “house of bread”. Micah also calls it Ephratah which means “place of fruitfulness”. How fitting that the Bread of Life was born in a place called “the house of bread”! It is also interesting that when He was born, He was laid in a manger, which is a feeding trough, for all the world to partake! He promised that all who ate that Bread would never hunger again! He satisfies those who feed on Him, Psalm 107:9.
     Bethlehem is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 35:16-20. As Jacob and his family are journeying home to Canaan, Rachel goes into labor and gives birth to Benjamin. Rachel dies in childbirth, and as she is dying, she calls her son’s name “Benoni”, which means “Son of my sorrow”. Rachel was buried outside Bethlehem. Jacob changed his name to “Benjamin”, which means “Son of my right hand”. Bethlehem is first mentioned in a negative context. It is associated with sorrow and death.
     Isn’t it amazing how Jesus can take a place that is associated with grief and suffering and turn it into a place associated with glory? While He was here on earth, Jesus was “a Man of Sorrows”, according to Isaiah 53. But after He had died on the cross and was buried, the Bible tells us that He arose again the third day, Matthew 18:1-6. He then ascended back to heaven and sat down on the right hand of God, ever living to make intercession for us. Thank God, He is our “Son of the Right Hand”.