Pam Padgett ... teacher
When Jesus was born, wise men from a country of the east knew that the King of the Jews was born, for they saw his star. They came to Jerusalem wanting to find and worship the King of the Jews ...
Matthew 2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in
the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to
Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we
have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Herod learned from the chief priests and scribes that Christ was to
be born in Bethlehem. Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, telling them
to go and search diligently for the child, then tell him where the
child was ...
Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these
things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had
gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he
demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him,
In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And
thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes
of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my
people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men,
enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent
them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young
child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come
and worship him also.
But the wise men didn't need to search diligently for the child. God chose to lead the wise men directly to where the He was. The star went before the wise men, stopping over the place where Jesus was ...
Matthew 2:9 When they had heard the king, they
departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before
them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When
they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with
Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had
opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh.
After worshiping Jesus and presenting gifts to Him, God led the wise men to go to their own country without returning to Herod, this time warning them in a dream.
Matthew 2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
God led the wise men to the exact place they were to go, in a way
they could understand ... leading them by the star. When they were not
to return to Herod, God again led them in a way they could understand
... giving them a warning in a dream so they knew to go a different
way.
It encourages us to consider how perfectly God is able to lead us according to His will and purpose ...
able to lead us in a way we can understand, to get us to the exact place we
need to be, and in the best way for us to go.
And, like the wise men, we rejoice with exceeding great joy when we see or hear something of God, knowing we are being led, cared for, instructed by God.