Chapter 5
Sammie didn’t
hear anything more about that special baby for almost a year. It was about a
year later that Bethlehem was all a twitter with some special visitors. Most
townspeople were amazed when the royal visitors arrived from the East. But
Sammie wasn’t surprised. He knew that the baby would be honored sooner or
later. Camels weren’t unusual in Jerusalem, but they were in Bethlehem. The
special visitors set up camp just outside of Bethlehem. They brought a whole
entourage complete with tents, cooking pots, and servants. By then the young
couple weren’t staying in the stable. They had managed to renovate an old
deserted shack just on the edge of town. The man had proven to be an honest,
trustworthy carpenter. He delivered what he promised, and the people of
Bethlehem appreciated that. His business grew. His word was his bond, and that
was rare in Judea. It seemed everyone was trying to get ahead of the backs of
each other. But not this young man. He was different. You could depend upon
him. And his wife was solid too. She kept to herself and seemed to be as
hard-working as her husband. But the baby … it just seemed ordinary. Nothing
special. That is until those Chaldean kings showed up.
Baruk was in
the shop picking up a stool when they arrived. He heard the camels and horses
long before the men came into the little shop. Baruk said a servant came in
first, inquiring of the young man. When he was satisfied with the answers, he
went out to his master and then they all came in. Baruk and the young man bowed
respectfully, but the Chaldeans bowed lower. After setting up a huge tent out
front, the kings invited the young man, his wife, and the special baby boy to
their pavilion. When the kings saw the baby boy, they were impressed! They
looked as if they had seen the face of God Himself! They bowed clear to the
ground over and over again. Then they began bringing out gift after gift. And
not just token gifts, but costly gifts from places all over the orient. Baruk was surprised, but I wasn’t surprised
at all! It was about time that the little baby boy was getting the recognition
that he deserved! He was a special child and those ancient travelers knew it!
After a
couple of days, they departed for their country. And it wasn’t but a couple of
days later that the young couple departed too. They left with no warning. One
day they were here and the next day they were just gone. All of the sudden
like.
But that
young man must have known something. He got out of town just in time. It wasn’t
a week after they left that Old King Herod’s wrath fell upon all of Judea. That
man was a wicked man. He ordered all boys two years and younger to be killed.
Rumor had it that he got word of this new “King of the Jews.” Herod was a
nervous ruler afraid of anyone who might take his throne. And well he should
have been! Evidently, those ancient travelers were supposed to bring word to
Herod about this newborn “King of the Jews”. But they sneaked out of Judea and
Herod was left guessing. In his rage, he commanded his soldiers to kill every
single baby boy two years and younger! Herod didn’t want to run the risk of a
rival king growing up right under his nose. Herod was never a popular ruler,
but after that, he was hated by everyone. After all of those innocent babies were
slain, thousands of mothers would have strangled Herod themselves!
And that was
the last that I heard of the young couple and their little baby boy … for a while.
It was almost twelve years before our paths crossed once again. That little
couple never showed up in Bethlehem again. I had wondered if they had escaped
Herod’s wrath, but I later found out that they did. That little baby boy grew
up and surprised everyone. Everyone except for me. I knew that he was special,
and I wasn’t surprised at anything that he did.
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