Did you know The Shepherd’s Field, where the shepherds were keeping their flocks so long ago, is located just outside of the city of Bethlehem? In my mind, I imagined the shepherds would have a while to travel and I often wondered what happened to the sheep they were supposed to be watching. In reality, though, the towns are very close. It would be like you lived on the edge of two towns meeting and that is how you’ll find Bethlehem and Beit Sahour. Regarding leaving the sheep, the shepherds routinely would bring all the sheep inside of a cave to sleep while they slept at the entrance and they used their staffs to help block any wandering sheep. So, I’d like to think most of the sheep were safely asleep in a cave by the time the angels made their way to the shepherds.

On our recent trip to Israel, I also learned that the area where the angels came the night Jesus was born was the area where shepherds regularly worked to raise the lambs used for the temple sacrifices; they came to the priestly shepherds. They were knowledgeable about the rules and law for such lambs: without spot or blemish, including no bruised or broken bones. When a lamb was born, they would wrap it in swaddling cloths and lay it in a manger until it calmed down. This helped to ensure the lamb would not injure itself right after birth.

There were several caves and fields in that area used for this birthing process. One such cave was in Bethlehem; therefore, when the angels told the shepherds, “…for today in the city of David (a.k.a. Bethlehem)…you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger”, they knew exactly where that would be and in which cave. Likewise, they knew exactly WHO Jesus was: their Messiah! This is why they hurried to find Him.

Jesus came just like the little lambs who were born simply to be a sacrifice; our sacrifice once and for all. He was without spot or blemish and never had a broken bone. He was not only without sin, He was fully in compliance with the Jewish laws and customs for the sacrificial lamb. To end the story perfectly, the lambs were sacrificed twice daily at the temple: once at nine for the morning sacrifice and once at three in the afternoon for the evening sacrifice. Our spotless lamb, Jesus, was placed on the cross for our sins at nine in the morning and He died at three in the afternoon.

God has a great way of writing His story. Seeing and understanding the customs of that day brought such new meaning to the story of Christmas for me. Just like the towns right next to each other, are you right on the edge of meeting God? I desire for God to continue to write His story with my life and with each of your lives this coming year. May you never forget how He desires to use you. He’s calling each and every one of you. It’s time for you to be like the shepherds and “hurry”; hurry in expectation to find God in this world!

© 2014 Susan M. Sims

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