An Advent Storybook and Study: Seeking Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
Copyright 2025 by Lūminé Press, Written by Elsie Lungren, Illustrated by Nicoleta Dabija
Day 04
“Good evening, children,” Mormor began. “As we continue our story, Mary and Joseph are now traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Our ancestor, Nettie Mouse of Nazareth, is enjoying the trip from her favorite spot in the saddle bag of Dottie the Donkey.”
The Journey to Bethlehem, Part 1
“Hey, Dottie,” squeaked Nettie Mouse. “Please explain to me, again, why we are traveling to Bethlehem. This dusty trip is going to take days if not weeks!”
“Don’t you like road trips?” asked Dottie. “I love road trips. We get to see what the world looks like outside of Nazareth.”
“I guess you are doing most of the work,” admitted Nettie. “I’m just along for the ride. Still, 97 miles is a long way to go when the path is so mountainous and dangerous. Bethlehem is almost 1500 feet higher than Nazareth, and not only does that mean we’re going uphill a lot, but navigating all the foothills means we’re going both uphill and downhill. Plus, there could be thieves or wild animals around any corner. And Mary is almost ready to give birth to baby Jesus! I like bouncing up and down in your saddle bag, but I can’t imagine it is very fun for Mary! If God really wants baby Jesus to be born, why didn’t He put a stop to this census thing? And what is a census?”
“Hee-haw!” brayed Dottie. “A census is when all the people are counted. It’s not an idea that the Romans came up with. In Numbers 1:2-3, God said to Moses, ‘Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army.’ So, one reason for a census is for a country or nation to know how big their army can be. Another reason for a census is for the government to know how much money it can get from taxing the people. That could help them know how much money they can spend on building new roads, bridges, and aqueducts. The reason for this census ordered by Caesar Augustus is most likely because he wants to figure out how much money he can get from collecting taxes. Luke 2:1-5 explains that each man has to go to his ancestral home to be counted. Since Joseph is a descendant of King David, he has to go to David’s city, and that is Bethlehem. And since Mary is going to be his wife, she has to go with him.”
Mormor paused. “Before we continue the story, I’ll tell you something that Joseph and Mary didn’t know, because it hadn’t been written in the Bible yet, but they acted as though they did know it. And that shows how honorable they were. But since we can see what was written in the Bible in their future, let’s look at what it says about whether or not Joseph really needed to show up to the census, and whether or not he really needed to pay taxes. After all, they were being governed by Romans instead of by Jews. Why should they give money to the Romans? Would it be that wrong of them to simply hide?
“Let’s look at what Paul said in Romans chapter 13. ‘Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities… This is also why you pay taxes… Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes’ (Romans 13:1, 6, 7). And look at Luke 20:22-25 where the Pharisees, being the teachers of the law, were trying to trick Jesus. They posed the following question to Jesus:
‘Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’
He saw through their duplicity and said to them, ‘Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?’
‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.
He said to them, ‘Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’
And also look at what Paul says in Titus 3:1. ‘Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities.’
“In other words,” continued Mormor, “if a census was ordered by the authority of the Roman Empire, which was Caesar Augustus, and if Caesar wanted people to be counted and to pay taxes, and if the Israelites were being ruled by the Roman Empire at that time, then showing up for the census was not optional. This shows what a good man Joseph was.
“Let’s hear a bit more of what Dottie told Nettie before we pause the story until tomorrow.”
Dottie continued, “You asked a good question, Nettie. Why didn’t God put a stop to the census? Wasn’t carrying a baby as an unwed mother hard enough for Mary? Does God really want her to also handle the exhaustion of a bumpy journey, and the fear of potential danger around every corner? It would be easy for Mary and Joseph to question God about why He is letting this happen if He wants His own son, Jesus, to be born.
“But, God wants us to trust Him. He wants us to have faith. If we have faith, then we can believe He will keep His word about the promises and prophecies we find in the Bible. No matter how grim or challenging the circumstances seem, we know that God is with us. In Genesis 28:15, God says to Abraham, ‘I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.’ And in Joshua 1:9, God says to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ Mary and Joseph believe that God has chosen them to help bring Jesus, Emmanuel, into the world, and they trust that God will keep them safe.”
Nettie was listening carefully. “I am beginning to realize that we are right in the middle of God’s great plan. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!”
Mormor smiled and said, “This is some road trip that they are on! It’s filled with risk, danger, the unknown, adventure, and lots of twists and turns. I wonder if there are also sparkling stars, twinkling fireflies, beautiful sunrises, and singing birds. We can only use our imagination about that.”
Application: Today’s part of the story talked about honor, obedience, trust, faith, and courage. Joseph and Mary knew they were being told to go on a trip at a time that was not convenient at all. Mary was about to have a baby! They were not given a choice if they were going to be obedient to the authorities, and to God who wants people to respect authority. But, to go on this journey required them to trust God and to have courage. And just as had Abraham and Joshua before them, they did. They set a great example for us. In our own lives, we can also strive to be obedient, to trust God to keep His promises to us, to believe that God is always with us, and to have courage.
Reading: Luke 2: 1-5, Genesis 28:15, Joshua 1:9
Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (originally written in Latin circa the 9th century, translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851).
