After listening to the king, they went on their way.
And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it
came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they
rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. Matt 2:9-10 ESV
Bethlehem is just
four miles from Jerusalem--a little over an hour's walk away. The Magi had
already been traveling for around
eighteen months. What's another hour or so?
But as close as they
were, they were not close enough. When
they got to Bethlehem they needed further guidance.
The scribes had already told them that the Messiah would
be in Bethlehem, but Bethlehem had a
population of about six hundred people, with about hundreds of homes and
cottages. The Messiah was in one of
them, but which one? If they asked
around, they would might attract the
wrong kind of attention. Herod's men
were no doubt following them. They needed to find the Christ Child discreetly,
without causing a fuss. They needed guidance, but they needed to say as
anonymous as possible.
God provided the
answer. When they arrived in town, they
simply kept following the star. They saw
it rest over the house where Mary and Joseph were living.
The Magi's problem
was similar to the problem that we have often. We know the general direction
that God wants us to go, but we still need specific guidance. Do we take this road or that? Do we marry
this person or that? Do we go to this
college or that college? Knowing the
general way is often not enough We want specifics. God often doesn't tell us until we arrive at
the point of decision.
There is no use for
us to look for signs. When God gives a
sign it is wonderful, but most of the time God wants us to use our own
judgment. The best thing about God's
will for our lives is that we don't need to find it. He finds us. God's will is
not as easily missed as we think. God makes His will obvious at the right time.
In the case of the
Magi, they found the right path by doing four things.
First, they relied on His Word. The scribes in Jerusalem told them the Christ
child would be in Bethlehem, and they went
to Bethlehem. When we follow what the Word says, God will give us grace
to go the rest of the way. But if we ignore what God is saying in His written
Word, we will soon become hopelessly lost.
Second, they asked for guidance from God. The
Bible doesn't specifically say they prayed about it, but we know they must have
prayed. If God could send a sign that
would lead them eighteen months over the desert, surely He could be trusted to
lead them for the short distance to the right house. They kept relying on God and they found Him.
Third, the followed the light they had already been
given. They didn't seek for
additional guidance, but simply followed the same star they had been following.
God's light shines from the outside. When we see it, we keep going until God
shows us a different way.
Fourth, the used their own judgment. They were astrologers, skilled in celestial
navigation. Most of us could not tell
one star from the other, but they could. They checked the positions of stars
daily.
We do not know what
"the Christmas star" actually was. Some have suggested that it was
something obvious, like a comet, or a
supernova. Others suggest, though that the star was just an ordinary planet in
a position that would have meant nothing to a casual observer. But these men
were not casual observers. They knew to
attach great importance to what they saw because of the training they received.
God used their judgment and skills to enable them to reveal something of great
importance to the whole world.
We find God's path
for our lives by a similar process. Study the word. Pray for guidance. Follow
the light you have been given. Then use your own best judgment. God will not
allow you to go long down the wrong road.
He will patiently help you to find the right one. Just follow His Word and He will show you the
way to Him.
"Father, thank you for guiding me this far in my
life. Lead me during this year to study Your Word, so that I may be guided
correctly through the coming year. In Jesus' name. Amen."
