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Verse:And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger. —Luke 2:7, NIV
For me, the last six weeks of pregnancy felt like being the proverbial beached whale. My sister delivered both of her children six weeks early, so whenever I declared it was hugely uncomfortable to be pregnant at the end, she never understood it. In the birth story of Jesus, the innkeeper is often vilified for closing his door on Mary and Joseph. Surely, I would have given up my own room, wouldn’t I? It must be obvious to the innkeeper that the woman is uncomfortably pregnant and exhausted by her journey. Isn’t her condition worthy of finding a room or space in the house for her? No, it is not the concern of the innkeeper. The innkeeper is acutely aware that the space will become contaminated with the uncleanness of birthing. A homeowner needed a separate space for a baby to be born. Uncleanness lasts for one week with the birthing of a boy and two weeks for a girl, but the mother must continue in separation for further purification —a total of forty days after birthing a boy and eighty days after birthing a girl (Leviticus 12).
What homeowner has enough spare room to take in a traveling woman who is ready to give birth? Even if a spare room is isolated, one never knows how long it will take before the mother is ready to travel home with her newborn baby.
The innkeeper knows that Mary’s pregnant condition doesn’t excuse breaking the law when his family and other guests are gathered under his roof.
The innkeeper won’t risk his livelihood with the birthing at his inn.
Through the forced global lockdown in 2020 due to the coronavirus, we can understand what the loss of livelihood for forty to eighty days means for a small business owner and his employees. Do I consider the dilemma of the innkeeper when he chooses to follow the Torah, shutting his door on Mary and Joseph? What if following God’s Word seems foolish or contradicts civil law? Do I know God’s voice well enough to let it guide me without regret? Or do I act on what I think is right without consulting the Law and the Prophets? Am I prepared to keep God’s commandments, no matter the cost?
Rebecca Turner