The wise men from the East saw the star. Not many did. How did
they know? What was it about that star that brought them in search of the
Messiah? Were they familiar with Jewish Scripture?
“A star
shall come out of Jacob, a scepter shall rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:17
It is ironic that
King Herod, the king of the Jews, calls a secret meeting with the Magi. He had
consulted with his advisors and teachers of the law. He asks the three men to
seek out this child and report to him, and they go on their way.
God leads them to
Bethlehem. That same star is just ahead of them.
When they
saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child
with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened
their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh,
and having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to
their country by another route. Matthew
2:10-12
The virgin birth,
the town of Bethlehem, the star rising, and now the gifts of the three Magi,
all prophesied hundreds and even thousands of years earlier. Statistically
impossible by human standards. But with God, nothing is impossible.
“Herds of
camels will cover Your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah and all from
Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praise of
the Lord.” Isaiah 60:6
The wise men were
watching the skies, waiting for the Messiah. Are you? Jesus could return at any
moment. Wise men still seek Him. And maybe, like them, your route will change.
Worshiping Him, seeing Him up close and personal, often moves us in a new
direction. The three travelers were moved out of the way of a scheming King.
Which way will He
lead you? Away from a poor choice, away from weariness, away from
all-encompassing anxiety? After meeting Him for the first time, we turn from
despair and move to expectant joy and hope. Just as His mother clothed Him in
swaddling clothes, He clothes us with His righteousness. He wraps us in His
loving arms and we will never be the same. Keep your eyes fixed on the skies.
We are heaven-bound!
Dear Lord,
The stories surrounding your birth astound us. From the
ordinary birth in a manger to the brightest star spoken of so long ago, all leading
us to You. Keep our minds and hearts focused on You during this season and
every single day thereafter.
In Jesus name
Amen