You've got to love this story. What I think makes it great can be summed up in one word, which doesn't happen very often. Let's cherish this moment.
Providence! Thanks to Omnibus I, I've been looking out for providence in lives and stories for the past couple years. And providence can be seen so clearly in the story of the wise men! Even though it's seven weeks past Easter, I think we need to be reminded in this stressful time of God's care for us students... even during the beginnings of exams.
I'd like to just make two sub points. 1) God's guidance of the Magi, even through their ignorance(which I certainly have plenty of) 2) God's care through the 3 gifts
1! Let's start with the Word.
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:" (here they go on to quote Micah 5:2,4.) - Matthew 2:1-5
Since that was quite a chunk, here's verse 4 again. "When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born." It's been suggested that the Magi or the Persian wise men were knowledgeable in the scriptures, which, for all we know, may be possible. Whatever the case may be, they still needed a big piece of help(just like we do - remembering information, figuring out how to exhibit it clearly, jumping from point A to point B or just having the strength to continue on). God faithfully guided them - and this is besides directing the star and compelling them to follow it. He led them to the right place, to the absolute experts of their time in the Old Testament who foretold the coming King. God didn't leave them as failures but gave them what they needed to continue on.
2: "11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." - Matthew 2:11
These gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh, are what first caused me to stop, about face, and see how clearly and deliberately God had acted. We know that He will never forsake us but give us what we need to continue on. Now, through these gifts, we can also see that God works in this world for a reason. I may not know why I'm studying biology (and really dread memorizing all of it) but God will use it in the future. You may really despise the main theories of philosophers but God knows exactly when it will help you from being deceived by the lies of this world. He knows, He plans and He cares for you. He guides you and will never forsake you, even in the darkest of exams.
Love,
Sarah
I'm Not For Me
