Why a manger?

A manger seems like the most unlikely birthplace of the future King of kings and Lord of lords. Why would the love of the Father send a Son to a stinky manger?

Have you ever been in a first-century manger? None of us can travel back in time, but most of us have been on a modern farm. Even with the best technology and techniques, farms tend to be quite a mess and very smelly. 

As a young city boy, I remember traveling into the Quebec countryside to see my grandfather and grandma Dean. They had a small farm near the river, but their farm had no animals. Every visit was marked by jumping in bales of hay from a second-story loft in the vacant barn. It was so much fun, but at the end of the day, I smelled like a sewer. It makes me wonder why a loving God would send His Son to such a harsh reality. 

To tell you the truth, I wonder about child abuse, fraud, murder, prejudice, hatred, wars, injustice, and this pandemic. Why would a loving God allow these abuses, tragedies, and accidents? 

The Bible says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.” (Isaiah 55:8, NIV)

So I’ve made it a point to answer a few of these questions and try to figure out the God of the universe. It’s a daunting task, and my brain is limited. But please take a moment to consider these perspectives:

1. God sent His Son into a manger to show the world that God loves the poor and rejected.
2. The Bible says Jesus learned through obedience: “Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8, NIV)  
3. God allows a lot of things that He hates. The inn would have been much better, but the innkeeper had free will. God hates injustice and abuse, but men and women have the ability to make decisions that bring life or death. 

You are created in the image of God. You also have free will, and you can use that freedom to rise from a manger, a slum, or a life of mistakes. God loves you. 

And you are designed to be a miracle.