One of the most troubling events in scripture that takes place is God does something He never has before, but Roman god's and goddess had. Understanding that God of scripture will be the father of the baby is not a mystery or impossibility. Yet what I never understood why God would seem more like the pagan god's of the time of Roman Empire. The story of the virgin birth never really mention again since the beginning of the Gospel. The point never remember in the preaching to the tribes of Israel in other countries or spoken about beyond being Jesus of Nazareth. We have a story about the Virgin birth only to have to deal with the truth of the story. Yet the prophecy of the story is in Isaiah 7 and was ensign to the people of Israel of hope coming to them after the rebuilding of the temple. Is prophecy enough when it comes to a virgin birth. Is the idea of faith being stretch to a concept of virginity being understood as a fact. To understand that Holy Ghost will come upon her and God's power would overshadow her. What is God's power but ability to enable a conception without sex. That same power that made the first man, that same power that molded a man out of dust and breathe life into it. God's ability to create from His Spirit never ceased, for did not the Holy Spirit hover over the earth and the power of God through word become something in Genesis. Now the Word was becoming flesh not molded from something else. Perhaps the reason it was a virgin conception, because of the sexual immorality of the Roman culture along with the immorality of their gods.

Why bring up pagan gods and goddess conception, to note the difference in the history of purity of God's people and God's ability to create without rape, incest, or immorality. The purity of God still intact with the idea of virgin conception and birth. Israel God was different, and unique in the ability to create without origin as the pagan gods and goddess did. In Psalms 74 it talks of the heathens setting up ensigns to the people. And as I began to think on this why did heathens set up prophecy to Israel. They were in hopes that one day those things would come to be to try and prove the reality of their idols, only to fail, beyond the prophetic fact of history repeats itself, so much hope of faith often put in false prophesy. The fact was by faith and hope at the inspected time of the appearing of the Messiah had a proclaimation time frame and, would be conceived by God's power and not by force but a willing virgin to receive the gift of a babe to be housed by her womb. If she had thought on it for a time, I wonder if she would of consented. God's power over shadowing individuals for healing, for movement of God among his people, for bring a lost soul to conviction, and it is the same power that conceived life withinside Mary. Not by intercourse, but by the spoken word as the Holy Spirit surrounded Mary.

The angel came and spoke to Mary and told her not to be afraid she was "highly favored, the Lord was with thee: blessed art thou among women".Now the angel told her she would have a son name Jesus. She had never known a man in the since of sex so how could this be, so she asked the angel. She understood this Jesus would reign over the kingdom of David. She perhaps was even more surprised when told the conception would be by the power of the Holy Spirit, who would come and overshadow her. Perhaps she thought at first, because she was engaged to Joseph when her marriage was official, she would conceive, perhaps with her inquiry she was looking for more information of time frame of conception, perhaps she was looking to know if it be her first son, or second son, or information about what to expect when she made her inquiry to the angel as to how. I can not imagine her surprise or her thoughts about being chosen to be virgin of prophecy to conceive a child by God's power and not man's.

This would be no ordinary child a child born of virgin conceived by God's power and he would be a king on the throne of David. and his throne would have no end. The mystery of a throne without end. He would be and is king over the earth. Yet Christ would be coronated as king and then executed and would raise to life again. How the disciples and Mary must of wonder at the cross how could he be a king to rule over the throne of David for eternity. Without the resurrection the idea is impossible. Without the hope of eternity the reality of Messiah on the throne to rule the people seems impossible. The hope sprung alive through the resurrection which was foretold as well as his death. How the scripture must of run through their head as they seen the risen Lord. How the hope of this king taking the thrown must of seem real, and yet the throne room would be in heaven until Christ return. He will return to rule his people in love, truth, and in judgment. As Mary hearing all the angel had to say believed without doubts but accepted it and said let be according to your word.

What can we learn but to take God's word spoken as being truth. What can we learn from the story, God's power is not stopped by how he made things to work. He design man and woman to conceive, but used his power instead. In other words I might need duck tape to fix something and instead find a little glue would be better. Our concept of God's orignal designed changed to his power and hiss ability to perform and not man's ability to fulfill a prophecy through sex. Zechariah and Elizabeth conceived by natural means, this virgin birth was unnatural in tradition, but of God. God changed a design for a purpose. Man changes God's designs for selfish desires. God changed the origin for someone identical to him to be conceived as a blessing to the world a gift of peace.

God demonstrated his ability to do the impossible in a time perhaps they needed this sign to be fulfilled to encourage faith. Though the word would of spread the meaning of it fully not understood. God was sending His word in human flesh to speak to the world for Him, instead speaking only by His Spirit to the people or through an angel. His word was going to walk right among the people and the people as his Son and people were going to see a creation of God by miraculous conception. He came not in disguise but people knew him not or understood who he was. Yet the believers of faith that seen the prophecy fulfilled like Simeon, and Anna rejoiced as the babe was brought into the temple. Those that knew were people of faith, those blinded were only people of Israel based on heritage. Faith for some was not in the picture. Today some people can not take it on faith that God's ability to over ride his orignal design is possible. Some people are Christians by heritage and not by faith. You can not be a believer/Christians without faith. To do so is apostasy and to continue to do so is being lost from the grace of God. One needs godly hope.

Dear Heavenly Father may truth reign in our hearts and soul this Christmas season as we ponder the aspects of faith receiving the knowledge of your power to do the impossible. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: Psalms 74:4 KJV Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.

Note: This is time of Hezekiah and there were many false prophets and teachers.