I read recently about a woman who had waited till the last minute to send Christmas cards. She rushed into a store and bought a package of 50 cards without really looking at them. Still in a big hurry she addressed 49 of the 50 and signed them without reading the message inside. On Christmas Day, when things had quieted down somewhat she chanced to run upon the leftover card and finally read the message she had sent to 49 of her friends. Much to her dismay, it read like this:

"This card is just to say A little gift is on the way." Suddenly she realized that 49 of her friends were expecting a gift from her, a gift that would never come.

God had promised Israel a Messiah. God was faithful to His promise. Unlike that lady's 49 friends, the people of Israel were not left waiting for a gift t…