Who Was Ceasar Augustus?

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed... And all went to be taxed, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child." Luke 2: 1, 3-5

Yesterday we talked about how there are certain verses in the Bible we have read so many times that we blow over them and miss all of the powerful details. --- It is kind of like a road that you drive down every day. You know the road very well. But one day you start paying close attention to everything around you, and all of a sudden you start seeing houses you never knew were there!!!

The passage above mentions Caesar Augustus. Let's take a brief look at who this guy was. Julius Caesar was Augustus' great uncle. Julius Caesar had no children of his own so he adopted Augustus and made him his financial and political heir. Well, we all know what happened to Julius Caesar... (He was brutally murdered in a political conspiracy). Thus led to Augustus' rise to Roman power. Caesar Augustus ruled for years and he was actually pretty old when he issued the taxation decree before Jesus' birth.

Here's the interesting part: Caesar Augustus was a pagan. He worshiped multiple cult gods and goddesses. He did tolerate the Jews and the Jewish religion being practiced in provinces under his control, but he was not keeping up with Jewish prophecy and the details of the coming Messiah. So, God used a complete pagan emperor to fulfill the word of His prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Caesar Augustus' decree was the only reason Joseph and Mary needed to go to Bethlehem. Otherwise, they would have stayed in Nazareth -- and that would not have lined up with the prophecy received from God.

Don't you just love how God uses people who are against him to do His will? I think that it reveals God's sense of humor. I love how God shows us His power and ultimate control by guiding the course of events and decisions among believers and pagans. After all, He is the God of the universe!