By Lill Kohler

Psalm 72:10-11 “The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts. All kings will bow before him, …” (NLT) (1000 BC)

Numbers 24:17 (Spoken by Balaam) “I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. …” (NLT) (1446-1406BC)

Matthew 2:1-11 … wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem… When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense and of myrrh. (CSB)

No set of Christmas devotions can be complete without mentioning the star and the wise men who followed it. Unlike other Old Testament prophecies, we only find one reference to a coming star. Included in the same reference is the mention of a scepter. These two words combined imply a ruler would arrive sometime in the future.

The Magi (or wise men, or kings) that arrived in Bethlehem were learned men who more than likely studied the writings left behind by the prophets who spent time in Babylon as captives. Because of what Daniel wrote in Chapter 9, they knew the time frame to begin a nightly watch of the stars. Spotting a new one would not be difficult. And its appearance would indicate the prophecy was fulfilled.

So when it happened, they loaded up their camels, donkeys and probably horses with treasures fit for royalty and headed out on a 1300-mile journey.

The Bethlehem star was a unique star. We see this when the Magi departed Herod. The star re-appears and leads these sojourners directly to the house where Jesus and His parents resided. (Matthew 2:9-10) Once there, they worshiped Him. The gifts they gave the family soon provided finances for travel and settling down when they escaped to Egypt. These actions of the Magi fulfilled two prophecies.

No matter what the actual background was of these wise men, God honored them by warning them to return home by another route. Thus, avoiding more contact with Herod.

Food For Thought:

How far would you travel to see a miraculous work of God?