READ: Matthew
2
In this chapter we read about the wise men finding Jesus after He was
born. They had seen a sign in the sky. As wise men, they were trained to watch
the stars, rotations and movements of planets, stars and all kinds of heavenly
bodies for all kinds of information. They were the astronomers (some might
argue that they were astrologers) of the day. Magi, or wise men, studied stars,
planets and other heavenly bodies to navigate, predict weather, teach science,
and many other things. They also studied all kinds of prophecies and writings
in the hopes they would be able to understand and predict more. These were the
educated men of society.
It makes sense then that when they saw something unusual happen in the
skies they immediately understood there was a significant thing happening. The
specific sign they saw meant to them, according to what they had been taught,
that a king would be born. However, this sign was so spectacular it couldn’t be
a normal king. This was going to be a
big-deal-kind-of-king. If they didn’t already know the Scriptures, they at
least knew where they could look. Everything they saw in the sky was confirmed
in just one verse. (They quoted Micah 5:2.)
They then travelled for a long time, possibly as much as two years, to
find the baby. From possibly one verse and the signs in the sky
they took great risk, bringing costly gifts to a baby born in a stable. When we
see this we must acknowledge one thing: the signs in the heavens were the
fulfillment of a prophecy so great that even those who once didn’t believe
became worshippers of the One True God.
It’s not just the magi who took action on just one sign from God. Joseph
did the same. When the magi left Bethlehem there was no way for Joseph to know
that Herod had issued a decree for the death of all boys aged two and under. But
God gave Joseph a dream. Just one dream. According to this chapter Joseph
didn’t even wait until morning to talk it over with Mary and see if his
nightmare might have been indigestion, or if he was interpreting it correctly!
No! He just got up in the middle of the night and with intense urgency they
packed up their things and left while it was still dark.
JOURNALING
AND PRAYER
1.
How does the Lord usually speak to you? Some hear Him best in nature,
others through Scripture, or circumstances, or song, or words/thought/pictures
in their heads, or dreams, or words of godly counsel, etc. Thank Him for
speaking to you. If you struggle to hear Him or know when it is God speaking to
you, don’t worry! He promises that those who love Him will hear His voice.
Spend a few minutes asking Him to remind you of a time when He did speak to you
and you obeyed or recognized Him. (Remember, conviction of sin is also God
speaking to you! If nothing else, thank Him for speaking to you about your sin
so you walk in repentance and life.)
2.
Ask the Lord to speak to you - how willing would you be to obey as
radically as the Magi and Joseph did, bringing you cost and sacrifice? Confess
any cynicism or skeptical thinking that keeps you from hearing or obeying what
you hear from Him. Ask Him to grow in you a heart that is eager to obey when
you are sure you hear His voice.
3.
Thank the Lord for using people outside the Jewish faith to help fulfill
His prophecy (the Magi). Thank Him for how intricately and powerfully He
orchestrated the announcement of the birth of His Son to the governing bodies
of the day. Thank Him for literally moving the stars in the heavens as a sign
of the birth of Jesus. Then spend some time thanking Him for the signs He has
given us of Jesus’ second coming as well, and ask Him to prepare our hearts to
recognize those signs when they happen.
