I am BETHLEHEM

My name means “House of Bread.”
I had many fields of barley and wheat.
I am a town located in the land that was given to the tribe of Judah.
When Ruth returned with her mother-in-law, Naomi, from the land of Moab,
after their husbands had died,
she settled here.
Widows were permitted to gather grain left by the harvesters in the field
and Ruth had asked to do so in the field owned by Boaz.
She was a steady worker, noticed by the landowner himself,
who gave instructions for her to continue reaping with his servants.
Naomi had sold the parcel of land her deceased husband had owned.
Boaz sought out the one who had the first right to buy back the property
and provided him the opportunity.
The offer was turned down for selfish reasons,
that man not wanting to endanger his own estate.
So, Boaz, as the next and only other kinsman redeemer,
took possession of the land and married Ruth,
in order to provide her with an heir
who could carry on the name of her deceased husband.
They had a son and named him Obed.
Obed's son was Jesse, and Jesse was King David's father.

That's why, when Caesar Augustus decreed a census should be taken,
and everyone needed to go to their family's home town,
Joseph, who belonged to the house of David, came with Mary.
Mary was pregnant and the town was crowded with many people.
I remember that night well.
It was a clear night with shepherds in the fields, tending their sheep.
It was a noisy night.
Inn accommodations for the night had been given to those who arrived earliest.
Travelers' donkeys added their braying to the cacophony of sounds.
Others were camping in surrounding areas, waiting to register for the census.
That's when the census increased by One,
One that would refer to Himself as the Bread of Life.
Yes, He was born here – in Bethlehem,
where seeds of wheat and barley are sown,
where fields of grain are harvested,
where grain is crushed, and bread is made.
His name ~ Jesus!

Twila
Christmas 2008