(A Countdown to Jesus’ Birthday)
On the First Day of Nativity – God provided the Messiah to a virgin in the family of David, in the city of Bethlehem, just as He’d promised.
We first see the promise of One who would overcome Satan in Genesis 3:14-15. We also hear God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 22:8 that God would provide Himself a Lamb.
We read the prophesy in Isaiah 7:14 – “…Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son…”
And in Micah we find “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah…out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel…”
God clearly set out a plan for the birth of the Saviour of the world. In Luke we see the culmination of that promise.
Luke 1:26-27 “…the angel Gabriel was sent from God…To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.”
Luke 2:4-5 “And Joseph also went up from Galilee…unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.”
Although the nation of Israel was looking for the coming Saviour, they made so many assumptions about how He would come. They were looking for a King.
They were not expecting Him to come to a young virgin girl and an upright carpenter who would’ve quietly divorced her, were it not for an angelic visitor in the middle of the night.
Quite often, the Lord will do His work in a completely unexpected way. He will use people who seem unqualified and unskilled. He will work quietly instead of with great pomp. He will use the weakest of this world to accomplish the truly great deeds.
If you are waiting on God to fulfill a promise to you, keep your eyes open to His working and moving. Stay in His Word daily to be attuned to the slightest movement toward that promise. Be wise to keep a humble, obedient spirit as you daily do the things you know are right to do each day.
God will show up in His time and in His way: maybe with a chorus of angels, or a bright star, or with a shout and a trump…and maybe with a still small voice.
If He promised, He will provide.
Obtaining Mercy 