History Books in 90 Days: Judges 18-19
VIRGIN BIRTH
Forecast: Isaiah 7:14 Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name
Immanuel. (KJV)
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:23 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they
shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (KJV)
Over the past few days we have been looking at the link between the timing of many prophecies of
Jesus birth and the suffering or darkness that God’s people were experiencing. We saw that each
prophecy provided HOPE for God’s children. Over the next few days we will look at some specific
prophecies of the Messiah’s birth and see how their forecast and fulfillment brings us much comfort
and HOPE. To fulfill the amazing prophecies of the birth of Christ, God performed a biological miracle.
The way in which Jesus was conceived was miraculous and supernatural. Jesus did not have a
biological human father; God was His father for He was conceived through the Holy Spirit. Mary bore
Him in childbirth, she felt real pain. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger.
God chose to make His appearance on earth as a little infant. Saint Peter of Chrysologus wrote, “God
wished to be born as a little baby in order that he might teach us to love and not fear Him.” Luke tells
us that Jesus was not only born with a human body but He grew up. He had a first haircut, lost His
first tooth; He simply grew as a human being. This is one small part of the God we love and serve!
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. The Christmas story is one that is quite familiar to most people. Pray that God would impress on
your heart a newness of the nativity this season. Pray that He would show you His goodness and
love this Christmas.
2. God could have just appeared as a fully adult man, why do you think He chose to be born as
an infant? Ponder this for a moment and then spend some time thanking the Lord for what He
shows you.
3. Spend some time in prayer for any of your unsaved friends and family members, that they would
be open to the gospel this Christmas and that you would be a good light to them this Christmas.
