A place for everything, and everything in its place

Application

God superintends a pregnancy for an old man with a wife advanced in years before approaching a virgin who may need a “boost” of faith before submitting to God the Holy Spirit’s overshadowing to become pregnant with the Messiah during her betrothal to Joseph.
Betrothed Joseph legally is Mary’s husband—her authority figure before God, so the Lord instructs him regarding his role in the birth of the God-Man.
Joseph quite literally had no choice but to bring Mary to Bethlehem for Jesus’ birth at a time when a caring Joseph would not have chosen to make Mary go on such a difficult trip. This too is God superintending history to fulfill prophecy.
The enemy causes difficulty for God’s people since he cannot touch God Himself, and God always, always, always, always provides for His will.
When God’s reputation is on the line, when the character of God is at stake, God exerts His sovereignty in order to “put us where He wants us”—often without our knowledge.
Conclusion: Zacharias, Elizabeth, and John are involved in setting up the first Christmas. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus are involved in setting up the first Christmas. Caesar, Rome, and Roman soldiers and tax collectors are involved in the first Christmas, but no one was more involved in the first Christmas than God the Father was!

Bible Text

(26) Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, (27) to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. (28) And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” (29) But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. (30) The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. (31) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. (32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; (33) and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” (34) Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (35) The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. (36) And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. (37) For nothing will be impossible with God.” (38) And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
-Luke 1:26-38