Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/215736
Inconvenient Pregnancies for the Glory of God HÉLÈNE DALLAIRE, PHD ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF OLD TESTAMENT both Moses' and Jesus' would be abort their babies. Clearly, the Today, maletheir pregnancieswas mothersthrown into encouraged toconceived atFortunately, Moses' timing of was inconvenient. Moses' mother a time when every Israelite born in Egypt to be the Nile and left to die. mother hid him for three months and "when she could hide him no longer" (Exod. 2:3), she sent him floating down the river in a sealed basket, trusting that God would spare his life. Mary found herself in a similar situation—young, unmarried, and facing an unexpected pregnancy. Joseph could have easily rejected her, had her stoned to death, and destroyed her and the baby; but fortunately, "he was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace" (Matt. 1:19). The beginnings of Moses' and Jesus' earthly lives were precarious and steeped in uncertainty. Both were born when anti-Semitic rulers oppressed God's people. Their lives could have easily been snuffed out at birth, cut short by ruthless and cruel political rulers whose insecurities dictated their disgusting decisions. But with God watching over them, they lived to testify that God can turn the worst of circumstances into the most amazing journeys. Who could have ever imagined that one day, Moses would become one of the leaders of Egypt, a man of stature in the country where the ruler had attempted to kill him. But God had a plan. He called Moses, raised him up as His representative, equipped him to deliver his people Israel, sustained him in the wilderness, and commissioned him to bring the Israelites to the edge of the Promised Land. Though not easy, what a fulfilled and remarkable life Moses lived! How much more so should we marvel at the plan God had for Jesus—His birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection. The child who was conceived by the Holy Spirit at a seemingly inconvenient time, carried in the womb of a virgin, and targeted for death as a child, was born for a purpose no one could have imagined. He came willingly from God to bring salvation to the entire world. No other birth could ever match the birth of this sinless child—Immanuel—the DECEMBER One whose coming the prophets had foretold. "...BUT BEFORE THEY CAME TOGETHER, SHE WAS FOUND TO BE PREGNANT THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT." (MATT. 1:18) 06 Though not easy, Jesus revealed to the world the true meaning of life—abundant, fulfilled, meaningful, and eternal. To Him be all the glory! DENVER SEMINARY CHRISTMAS 2013 11