Good morning,
Before the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, there were many angelic announcements. This week we will look at some of them.
Major Birth Announcements (The Annunciation)
These are announcements concerning the miraculous births of significant figures:
To Hagar (Genesis 16): An angel announced that she would conceive and have a son, Ishmael, and that her descendants would be countless.
And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
To Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18): Angels announced the forthcoming birth of their son, Isaac, despite their old age.
And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
To the mother of Samson (Judges 13): An angel announced to Manoah’s wife that she would conceive and bear a son, Samson, who was to be a Nazirite.
And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.
To Zechariah (Luke 1): The angel Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for the Lord.
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
To Mary (Luke 1): The angel Gabriel announced that she would miraculously conceive and bear Jesus, the Son of the Most High.
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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