Dev: Dec 12 - Numbers 24:17

I behold him, but not near.

A star will come out of Jacob;
a scepter will rise out of Israel.

Numbers 24:17

 

How did wisemen from the East know to follow the star? 

The most truthful answer is that we don't know ... for sure. Scripture doesn't tell us precisely. Nevertheless, the magi clearly knew Jewish prophecy. Why do we say that? Because when they saw the prophetic star rising at Christmas, they followed it from hundreds and hundreds of miles away (while the "scholars" in Israel seemed oblivious to the celestial spotlight in their own back yard). (Read the account in Matthew 2.)

Point one: Sometimes the people of God are oblivious to God's Word and the foreshadowings of prophecy. (How are you doing on that front?!)

The question is: How did the Magi know Jewish prophecy? My favorite guess is Daniel! When the Babylonians conquered Israel (and Persia conquered Babylon) many like Daniel were taken into Exile. And many, especially Daniel, gained influence among the Middle East scholars and soothsayers. It is believe that Jewish prophet writings remained in places like Persia and that this is what prompted the wisemen to follow the star. 

 

Was this prophecy the foretelling of the star? Perhaps. 

Many scholars would say instead that Jesus himself was the star prophesied in this passage. Called "the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star," in Revelation 22:16, Jesus himself may be the focus of this prophecy. After all, Jesus himself is surely a descendant of the line of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. He is the future (distant and "not near") light ("Light of the World," star) that will descend from the line of the Patriarchs ("will come out of Jacob") and "ris[ing] out of Israel, will be the long awaited King (symbolized as the One who holds the scepter).

 

Maybe this prophecy talks about the Christmas star. Maybe it talks about the Christmas child. Maybe it talks about both! But surely it is another reminder that God holds the future in his hands and is revealing his plan to all humanity for the salvation of the world. 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who realizes that

Hollywood only has fake “stars”

... if Jesus is The Star

 

 

 

 

 

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