Advent Day 23
Daniel 9:24-27 ESV
Numbers 24:17 ESV
Matthew 2:1-8 ESV
Matthew 2:10-11 ESV
Matthew 2:12 ESV
The Wise Men who followed the bright shining Star came from the East.
Biblical experts believe there were at least three wise men because there were three gifts. There could have been more wise men who came.
When I was growing up (during the 1950’s) and we learned about the three Wise Men we thought the three “kings” followed the star and showed up at the stable.
That doesn’t really make sense.
They could have seen the Star at the time the child was born and charted a path from the East to the Middle East.
The Prophet Daniel spent time in Persia (modern day Iran) and we learn from Daniel 9:24-27, “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
The Wise Men or the Magi from Persia most likely knew about the Prophet Daniel’s writing which would have given them clues to a timeline for the one who would come. They would have read it carefully.
The Wise Men could have also read a prophecy of Baalam that we find in Numbers 24:17 that spoke of a Star coming out of the line of Jacob:
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near:a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.”
The timing of the arrival of the Wise Men is difficult to pin point, but it does not make sense that they showed up in the stable to see Jesus. If they saw the Star and they studied what it could mean, they would have planned and charted the journey.
By the time they arrived the child would have no longer been in the stable. More than likely He would have been living in a house. He also would not have been a newborn babe (https://got questions.org/three-wise-men.html)
We know from Matthew 2:1-8, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise menfrom the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ‘“And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
We know from this account that the Wise Men followed the Star which led them to Bethlehem in Judah and they went to Herod, specifically Herod Antipas, of the Roman Empire who was tetrarch over Galilee (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Herod-Antipas).
We learn from Matthew 2:10-11, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”
The Wise Men did find the child.
The were filled with great joy when the saw the Star AND when they found the child.
They did worship Him.
They delivered valuable gifts to Him.
While Herod led the Wise Men to believe he was interested in worshiping the child and he instructed them to return to report to him where the child could be found, the Wise Men did not return to report to Herod. We know from Matthew 2:12 that, “being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”
Knowing the details about the prophecies and the actual journey the Wise Men took did not minimize the importance of the journey.
The details only enhanced their story.
The Wise Men who came from the East would have traveled many many miles to find the child. It’s estimated they traveled at least 400 miles through the desert. If they were following the Star they would have traveled at night and it could have take them over 40 days on foot (https://bibleask.org/how-far-did-the-magi-travel-to-see-Jesus).
That tells us just how important it was for them to find the child!
Maybe it’s just me, but that seems like they were seriously committed to finding the baby Jesus so they could worship Him.
Their commitment makes the story incredibly more important!
Spiritual Practice: The Wise Men
Consider their story and their commitment to finding Jesus. What does that tell you?
In God, Deborah
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