I want to use this story of what we have
come to call the “wise men” who came following a star to bring gifts to a new
born king; as an example of what we should expect when we make the choice to
follow Him.
These men were thought to be religious
leaders, as well as astrologers who were obviously watching for signs in the
heavens and who knew the prophecy of Numbers 24:17 which says; “A star will
come out of Jacob, a scepter will rise out of Israel.” Now, I don’t know
anything about astrology, but I have read that there are some constellations
associated with Israel, which is probably what they were watching. I also
believe that this particular star was a supernatural event done by God himself
as a means of fulfilling prophecy and guiding these men. Verse nine tells us
that the “star went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the
child was”. It sounds a little like the “pillar of fire and the cloud of smoke”
in the Exodus story. Tie this together with the fact that they were warned in a
dream - by the Holy Spirit - not to go back to Herod, and it becomes obvious
that this was a timeless God working supernaturally within the realm of the
time of man. So, it has been my experience, that when we choose to follow Him,
we can expect God to do supernatural things that we cannot explain, but must
accept by faith!
Secondly, we can expect the journey to be
long and challenging. That’s because most of us choose to learn things the hard
way! It is our job to be in touch with
God; and to be led by the Holy Spirit; and not to “conform any longer to the
pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds”.
Following God’s lead took Peter, John, Paul, and even Jesus himself on a long
and challenging journey.
Third, we can expect the unexpected. I
could write a book of all the times God did the unexpected in my life. God has
done some unexpected things in the church this last year; which ought to
increase our faith ever the more! The wise men were expecting to find the “king
of the Jews”, but they were not expecting to find him in Bethlehem. One thing
we come to find out about God is that He is unique! “For my thoughts are not
your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways, says the Lord Almighty.” 1 Cor.
1:27 tells us that “God uses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise;
He will use the weak things of the world to shame the strong”; When following
God, we should expect the unexpected.
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