WHEN THEY LOST SIGHT OF THE STAR
MATTHEW 2:4-10
MATTHEW 2:4-10 NKJ
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.'"
7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen 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 exceedingly great joy.
OBSERVATION:
The wise men had come to Jerusalem looking for Jesus. They had seen the star in the East and, on the basis of that star, set out on a major voyage to find the newborn King.
But they lost sight of the star. If the star had been clearly visible, they would not have stopped and asked for help.
But what they did next is pretty big. When they inquired about where the King of the Jews was to be born, their answer was a scripture. Herod, the King, asked the scribes and priests to tell him about the Christ child, and they quoted the prophet Micah. In Micah 5:2, buried in between some pretty tough judgment prophecies coming on Israel, is a verse telling where Jesus would be born. And these scribes and priests were confident enough in this word to send the wise men off in the direction of Bethlehem.
And what's also amazing is that the wise men acted on that one verse written hundreds of years earlier. This is a classic example of walking by faith.
Based on faith in this scripture, the wise men set off for Bethlehem. And after they left Jerusalem, the star reappeared. They literally walked, traveled, and journeyed on God's word until the star showed up again and led them to the right place.
APPLICATION:
The scripture indicates that we are to live the very same way those wise men lived. We must follow God as He reveals His next steps for our lives.
Then we have to keep walking even when we have nothing to go on but His word. And if we'll do this, we will wind up right where God wants us.
The wise men were a blessing to Jesus and His family. They provided the funds to move to Egypt until the danger was over.
In the same way, as we follow the Lord's leading and the light of His word, we'll be a blessing to the people we encounter and the ones He sends us to.
So, when you can't see to take the next step, go to the scriptures and keep walking. For we walk by faith, not by sight.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Lord, for Your voice and Your word in my life. I can walk in that light.