Matthew 1

What took us 24 hours to achieve (traveling from the Old Testament to the New) took over 400 years in "real time."  When the story of God's working among His creation resumes, the reader is given a brief synopsis of the story of mankind up to the present moment.  A genealogy is presented for Jesus of Nazareth, the One Whom Matthew will present as the promised Messiah.  Listed in this family tree are three people that seem unlikely candidates to be involved in the progeny of God's Promised Deliverer.  Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba; three ladies that would have had no claim to greatness apart from a miraculous working of God.  By God's grace, Rahab was spared in Jericho's destruction; Ruth was spared the shame of being widowed and childless; Bathsheba was allowed the honor of giving birth to Solomon, a king in the line of David - her husband who acquired her in less than honorable circumstances.  What a testimony to God's gracious working!

And yet, the story gets even more incredible.  Joseph, a man in the line of this genealogy, receives word that his betrothed wife is pregnant - by the Holy Spirit.  This is not a common occurence; in fact, it has only happened once in history.  And yet, God graciously allows this man to humbly accept the situation and the scorn and misunderstandings that must have come with it, in order to fulfill a far greater plan.  That plan will continue to unfold in tomorrow's reading.