The Character of God Displayed at Christmas—Part 2

Last week we began talking about how the Christmas story so beautifully displays the character of God and how all people who come to him have a place within his story.

Today we’re going to look at one more Christmas story along this same line of thinking—the story of the wise men. These men were likely pagan studiers of the stars, but when God reached out, they responded.

God sent an astronomical phenomenon specifically designed to lead these men to his Son, a sign which so intricately spoke their language that they knew exactly what it meant.

(Side note this Christmas: God sees where we cannot see and reaches where we cannot reach. He knows how to speak our language, and he knows how to speak the language of the one who seems far away and forgotten.)

After the wise men met with king Herod in Jerusalem, the Bible says the star went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was and that when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy (Matthew 2:9-10). 

These verses insinuate that the star had disappeared for a time. We don’t have space to explore that here, but one thing is clear—God doesn’t take us so far just to leave us hanging. If you can’t seem to find direction at the moment, then know this: the star will appear again when it’s time to keep moving. 

God is always found by those who seek him (Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 7:7). He goes before us. He finishes what he starts. 

Remember, God’s heart has always been for all people—to have a place in his family and in his story.

We’re part of a story so much bigger than our own. It started before us and will continue after us. The wise men were aware of Jewish prophecy because of the Jews who had remained in the east after the exile hundreds of years earlier. Those Jewish exiles could never have fathomed the impact their lives would have on future Biblical history.

Furthermore, scholars believe the gifts from the wise men provided the financial means for Mary and Joseph to flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s decree (Matthew 2:13-18). So, just like the Jews who stayed in the east after the exile, the wise men were used beyond their present moment in ways they could have known nothing about. 

God's story is so much bigger than us, but we get to be a part of it.  

His ways are so much higher than us, but we get to be a part of them. 

We'll never know the full extent of the effect of our story on this side of heaven, but we can be sure it would blow our minds if we did. 

Oh Lord, thank you for the gift of your Son. May we carry a renewed sense of your sovereignty into the new year, and a renewed awareness of our place within your story. Amen.