Advent Devotional - Week 3

by Stephanie Loomis on December 19, 2024

THE STARS PROCLAIM THE ETERNALITY OF GOD


Genesis 1:14-15
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.


Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from 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
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. 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.

On the fourth day of creation, God put the stars and planets in place. When Mary gave birth to Jesus, the stars began moving in a way that motivated astrologers from Babylon to travel almost 1,000 miles to see this new king. Generation after generation, the stars and planets rotated according to God's word and at a specific time, ordained by God on the fourth day of creation, the stars and planets moved into a position that alerted a group of Babylonian astrologers to the birth of the King of the Jews.

The Magi were scholars who advised their rulers about state affairs based on multiple points of data, including the stars and dreams. Magi understood the entire natural world, but their focus was astronomy and astrology, and they were revered by the people who both feared and worshiped the stars and their signs.  Daniel the prophet was a Magi under King Nebuchadnezzer because of his interpretations of visions and dreams. Unlike his fellow wise men, Daniel understood the real reason the stars could be read as signs, saying, "No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the kind the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be…" (Daniel 2:27-28).

The Magi of Matthew's account may have descended from those who served with Daniel. Theirs was an ancient art and science that merged with the truth about the nature of God, Himself. This knowledge passed from teacher to student and father to son until at last, the stars moved into place, announcing the King's birth. A dynamic and rare sign in the skies indicated to ancient star scholars that something important was happening near Jerusalem and they needed to be there. The Magi saw the sign and followed its light. The Creator of the stars commands their paths, even to pagan astrologers willing to seek, find, and worship this King. From the very beginning of time, God prepared the way.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible tells the story of a God who so loved the world that He gave his Son to redeem those who follow Him. Some believe because they are steeped in teachings from generation to generation. Others follow Jesus because they have heard the Scriptures taught well. Some come to Jesus reluctantly, after much research and soul searching. Some find Jesus and rejoice that they, like the lost sheep, were found. The Magi found Jesus by wonder and curiosity elicited by their observations of the stars and their knowledge of prophecies, like Isaiah 40:26 "Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one in missing." Without question, the eternal Maker of the stars and the One who knows them all by name can orchestrate their movement to make known His plans.

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