My wife and I recently announced that she is pregnant with our third child. From the moment I found this out, a joy-filled love and tenderness filled my heart for this child. We have entered into such a wonderful time of joy and anticipation, and as I write this now, we are still in the first trimester of this new season.

To celebrate this, here are some amazing facts about the early stages of pregnancy. I thought this was appropriate considering Elisha’s Riddle is about unlocking the mystery (riddle) of life itself…

First of all, across this entire planet, a new human is conceived four times every second!

Within hours of conception, 23 chromosomes from the father’s sperm fuse with 23 chromosomes from the mother’s egg, giving the unique, never-before-seen genetic code for life to come forth.

Twenty-four hours later, the first cell miraculously begins to divide. One cell becomes two, two becomes four, until about the fifth day when there are a bundle of a couple hundred interconnected cells. At the end of the first week, this incredible bundle of cells is about 100th of an inch across.

From there, this bundle of life implants itself in the mother’s uterus and big changes begin to happen deep inside every single one of those cells. By the end of the first eight weeks, the foundations of the human being are formed as preliminary organs and even a heartbeat comes forth!

It so obvious to see the hand of God in this! Though scientists are able to plumb *some* of the cellular mechanics of this process, it does make it any less of a miracle…

It’s funny, some people have a hard time believing in the Virgin birth of Christ. But people should have a hard time believing in any birth! It is ALL a miracle, and the miraculous birth of Jesus simply sanctifies the glory and beauty upon all human life conceived in the power of union.

Strangely wrapped in the flesh of cells and bodily fluids is the mystery of creation, the love-gift of the Father. The wonder of it all is immeasurable! May our eyes continue to be open to the beautiful riddle and mystery of life!