After the death of her parents, Esther was still young and was adopted and brought up by a cousin, Mordecai. He was the third generation living in Babylon since the exile. We suppose that Mordecai had no other family, and he educated Esther in the things that he knew about.

This chapter of Revelation goes on to say that a dragon, worse than anything you might have seen in a horror movie, was ready to devour the new born baby! The nativity story tells us that King Herod heard about the new born Jesus and set out to kill him.

The sad story of Jacob and his two wives, sisters who hated each other, began when his uncle who became his father in law tricked him into sleeping with the wrong sister on his wedding night. But this study is about babies and children. Maybe marriage is for another study!

Jacob and Esau were the result of the prayer that Isaac had prayed. The babies jostled each other is what our verse says today. In fact these two babies jostled each other for much of their lives. They were totally different, just as the prophecy Rebekah had received, had promised.

God welcomes new Christians into His worldwide family, and He grieves when we do not follow His commands, when we go off the rails. But He is always present and always ready to welcome rebellious ones on their return home. As we read in the story of the prodigal son.

We do not have too much information about these visitors, where they came from, or how long it was after the birth of Jesus that they finally arrived to visit Mary, Joseph and the baby. But it is clear that this young family were no longer living in a stable!

What a difficult time it must have been for Joseph when Mary told him she was expecting a child that was not his! Her visit to Elizabeth would have encouraged her to be bold about her situation. Very soon she would not be able to hide the pregnancy from anyone!

On Christmas Eve, it seems appropriate to think about this baby born to His virgin mother. This verse speaks of Jesus having to sleep in a manger. That makes us think that they were poor. But is that true? There is no suggestion in the gospels that Joseph was poor!

As the day approaches when we celebrate the birth of the Messiah, it seems appropriate to look at the family tree of Jesus. In the gospel of Matthew, we have the line of Joseph. Although he was not the father, he was the husband of the mother of The Saviour.

If we asked many church-goers today who the son of Manoah the Danite was, they would not be able to answer. But once they were given the name of this baby they could say that Samson was known for his strength. Maybe some would add and his weakness with women!