But Galilee? 

   About 700 B.C. the prophet Isaiah was writing in the southern kingdom of Judah when it was being threatened by the northern kingdom, Israel. God promised that he would bring the Assyrians to defeat unfaithful Israel. 

   Even so, Isaiah opens chapter 9 with a promise to honor Galilee - the people walking in darkness - in the northern kingdom. 

   Two centuries ago John Morison wrote a Christmas hymn little known today, but he captured Isaiah's prophecy. In part...

The people that in darkness sat

A glorious light have seen;

     For unto to us a child is born,

     To us a son is given,

          And on his shoulders ever rests

          All power on earth and heaven.

               His name shall be the Prince of Peace

               Forevermore adored,

                    The Wonderful, the Counselor,

                    The great and mighty Lord. 

                         On judgment and on justice based,

                         His reign shall have no end.

   For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace.

      - Isaiah 9:6-7    NASB 

   Yes, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but his ministry mostly centered around the Sea of Galilee ... a place of cultural darkness, despised by the upper class in Jerusalem. God does things His way.