Burunche’s Blog

Genesis 12:7-9 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.

Well, Abram has trusted God, making it to Canaan and has done well by worshiping God as soon as he arrives. But all is not rosy in Canaan, and Abram’s faith is about to be tested.

Genesis 12:10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. 12 Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.”

While we choose to believe that climate change is a new phenomenon, in fact, it has always affected human history. Here, Abram and Sarai move to Egypt to escape famine in Canaan. The Nile River provides a constant source of water for irrigation, so Egypt has food while Canaan does not. Abram is already seventy-five, so Sarai must be nearly sixty; however, Sarai is still so strikingly beautiful that Abram fears the Egyptians will kill him so they can take Sarai to join Pharaoh’s harem.   

Why does the Bible include this story about Abram with his fear driving him to lie? Why doesn’t Abram trust God’s direction and His promises? Here, Abram is tormenting himself, turning away from God’s comfort to become his own amateur providence. As soon as a potential threat looms, Abram forgets everything God has told him and God’s magnificent plans for his future. Abram also forgets that God has promised, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

14 So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful. 15 The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house. 16 He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

17 But the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.” 20 So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had.

Eventually, God delivers Abram and Sarai from the mess Abram’s lies have created. What might have happened had Abram had the courage to trust God and tell the truth in the beginning? Pharaoh might have respected Abram more for having a gorgeous wife at the age of seventy-five. Perhaps God wanted Abram to develop a close relationship with Pharaoh for some reason, but now Pharaoh is so revolted that he simply expels Abram and Sarai from Egypt.

We read this story and begin mentally criticizing Abram for his lack of faith. But how many of us would have done any better? God gives us promises, and we chant Bible verses and sing songs…..up until our faith is really tested. That’s when we begin struggling to find ways to fix the situation, never mind God’s promises or His assurances of comfort. We turn away from the very One who can help us and comfort us, struggling to find solutions in impossible places. We go in for Netflix, on-line games, food, alcohol, drugs, or even sex, all to fill the God-sized hole in our hearts.

Centuries after Abram has become Abraham, father of nations, and a pillar of faith, the Israelites have again forsaken God and His promises. Jeremiah 2:13 tells us, “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.”

As we enter this new year, we need to examine our hearts and lives. Are we truly depending on the One True Living God, the Fountain of living waters, the only Source of comfort, or are we digging broken cisterns that will leak, leaving us comfortless? It was Blaise Pascal, a seventeenth century French mathematician and philosopher, who taught us, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person, and it can never be filled by any created thing. It can only be filled by God, made known through Jesus Christ.”

God wanted to give Abram comfort and assurance in Egypt, but Abram tried to find his own solutions and failed miserably. Today, why not allow God’s Holy Spirit to fill that God-sized hole in your heart?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we confess that we have been trying to fill our hearts with stuff that can never comfort us. We confess these attempts as sin and beg You to forgive us. Please send Your Holy Spirit to fill us with Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Abraham’s father, Terah, has already moved his family from Ur of the Chaldees to Haran, on the Balikh River. This area is quite fertile and Haran is also a major trading center, with the Euphrates River being 100 km eastward. Although Terah might originally be heading for Canaan, when he reaches Haran, he chooses to remain there. Perhaps Terah begins trading and doing well. At any rate, Abraham is seventy-five years old before God shakes up his world.

Abram is quite comfortable in Haran. Perhaps Abram has even given up the notion of traveling to Canaan; after all, what’s the point of breaking off friendships in Haran to endure the struggles of the road? What can Canaan possibly offer that Haran doesn’t already have? Besides, Abram is already seventy-five and has no sons to whom he can pass things on. No, far better to stay in Haran where it’s safe and comfortable. But something happens. God speaks to Abram. And what God orders shocks Abram, for God directs Abram to tear up roots, leave Haran, and head for Canaan.

How does Abram know that God is speaking to him? Does Abram hear an audible voice? Does God speak to Abram in a dream? Does some diviner come to Abram? We don’t know. All we do know is that Abram becomes firmly convinced that God wants him to leave for Canaan and that God promises to bless him, to curse his enemies, and to bless all the families of the earth through him.

“But,” you ask, perplexed, “the title of these studies is all about comfort. This story sounds anything but comforting!” True. One of the confusing paradoxes about God is that He frequently subjects us to difficulties before he rewards us. You see, God knows far more about our circumstances than we do. We want quick fixes, even if they’re temporary while God is interested in permanent solutions. Terah reaches Haran and stops. For Abram, Haran is his entire world, but God knows Abram has the faith to become the father of nations. So God begins nudging Abram. Suddenly living in Haran has lost its appeal. Familiar scenes hold no enchantment. Conversations with friends and neighbors seem meaningless. Abram is restless and can’t understand why. That’s when God speaks to him, ordering him to pull up stakes and get on the road.

You might read these verses and wonder if this kind of thing really happens. We can testify that it does. Even though God called me into missions when I was eleven, I went through college, medical school, and nine years of surgery training while He remained silent. By the fall of 1985, I had completed my training and had taken a temporary job in a chain of minor emergency clinics. I was earning a good living and we were comfortable….except that we were totally uncomfortable. No matter how pleasant things were, we were restless. Finally, our pastor preached a sermon about Jonah, in which he said that Jonah remained uncomfortable because he was not following God’s leading. The pastor concluded that each of us should look inside ourselves to see if God was trying to guide us and if we had overlooked any opportunities.

That very week, Bob had met a doctor friend who worked at a mission hospital in northern Nigeria. This man had supplied us with application forms for his mission. With nothing else to act on, we decided to complete those applications. As soon as we completed the forms, we felt relieved. Later when we interviewed with representatives of that mission, it became evident that our theological views did not match those of that particular mission. But the process was started, and within a year, we were to meet the mission that eventually sent us to Ghana for our first mission term.

Since that time, we have had other experiences of “holy discomfort.” We have learned that when these convictions have come, we simply need to ask God for guidance and He will direct us. What’s happening in your lives? Are you feeling what might be “holy discomfort?” Ask God to enlighten you. Trust Him, for He is a good Father who does not play guessing games.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, as we begin this new year, please help us to listen for Your still small voice. Open the eyes of our hearts, that we may see You and understand Your will for our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 8:20-21 Noah built an altar to God. He selected clean animals and birds from every species and offered them as burnt offerings on the altar. God smelled the sweet fragrance and thought to himself, “I’ll never again curse the ground because of people. I know they have this bent toward evil from an early age, but I’ll never again kill off everything living as I’ve just done.

22 For as long as Earth lasts, planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never stop.”

Noah and the family have just survived a catastrophic flood while caring for hundreds of animals and birds. Now everyone has come out of the ark, and Noah has made an offering on an altar. Now God is responding to Noah by promising never to kill off everything living again for as long as earth lasts. God is promising to preserve His creation.

What many of us fail to realize is that God has given us creation for comfort. In an earlier age and today in locations where people are not tied to screens and the internet, many people spent-and spend-much of their time outdoors. Now, large numbers of people are choosing to remain inside, but is that the wisest choice for mental health? No. When we divorce ourselves from nature, we are cutting off one of God’s biggest gifts for our comfort.

No less august a source than the Mayo Clinic newsletter touts the benefits of being outside.

“There are many studies that demonstrate how spending time in nature can improve mood, lower anxiety, and improve cognition and memory,” says Mayo Clinic nurse practitioner Jodie M. Smith, APRN., C.N.P., D.N.P., M.S.N. “Making time for nature is important in order for us to maintain resiliency and promote self-care in a world that demands a lot from us.”

How does nature benefit mental health?

First and foremost, Smith says that nature can be an effective tool to manage stress.

“Stress stimulates our sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for increasing our blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar in order to react to a stimulus that is causing us stress,” says Smith.

And while not all stress is bad — for example, stress can motivate you to meet a work deadline or keep an eye on your kids at the pool — prolonged or chronic exposure to stress can chip away at your emotional and mental well-being.

But nature may be able to combat stress and its effects. For example, one study showed that exposure to nature can regulate the sympathetic nervous system in as little as five minutes.

“This means that we can get an almost immediate benefit from stepping outside,” says Smith. And doing so on a recurrent basis may prevent cumulative effects from stress, which could mean a lower risk for chronic disease, illness and mortality.”

In addition to alleviating stress, Smith says research indicates that exposure to nature can be an effective coping strategy for those with chronic mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Prolonged immersion in nature and nature-based therapy programs have shown promise as a way of managing PTSD.

Even for those without serious mental health conditions, nature may help you manage emotions like loneliness, irritability and possibly even road rage.

Finally, there is evidence that nature exposure is associated with better cognitive function — like memory, attention, creativity and sleep quality.

But perhaps the best part is that nature makes it easy to soak in these benefits.

“Being present in nature doesn’t ask or require anything of us, so it frees up our mind to think more deeply and clearly about things,” says Smith.

Smith goes on to encourage those who are stuck inside all day to create small green spaces, to listen to recorded bird songs and to become involved in community gardens and other projects that help them get outside. https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/mental-health/the-mental-health-benefits-of-nature-spending-time-outdoors-to-refresh-your-mind/

Some cultures are so serious about time spent outdoors that infants may even be brought outside to sleep. When I saw the photo online, I could scarcely believe it. Caring mothers in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland bundle their babies warmly, placing them in padded baby carriages, and LEAVING THEM OUT IN THE COLD AND SNOW TO NAP!!! Moreover, this has been going on for centuries. Even today, as evidenced by the photo, people go to coffee shops, leaving their babies to sleep outside in the cold.

• It turns out that there are a number of major health benefits to gain from this practice: Improved Sleep Quality: Despite the cold temperatures, babies who nap outside actually sleep for longer and enjoy deeper sleep, according to studies. This can be helpful for their overall development, and since this is commonly a daily practice in the winter, it can help keep their sleep schedule regular, too!
• Boosted Immune System: Because of the baby’s exposure to the outside world and colder temperatures, they also have improved immunity. This is something that all Danish people believe fervently—that fresh air, specifically cold, fresh air—is wonderful for their children’s health. When they nap outside, they are also exposed to less indoor germs, which means that they stay healthier.  
• Enhanced Physical Health: As you can imagine, the combination of improved sleep quality and boosted immunity leads to improved physical health. Additionally, because of the temperatures, babies enjoy improved blood circulation and get more sunlight exposure, all of which help their health and circadian rhythm stay regular.  
• Better Mental Well-Being: When babies nap outside, they are also exposed to environments that can improve their mental well-being. The natural environment can calm them down while also reducing parental stress, as this is a communal activity that all parents take part in. It’s a highly beneficial practice for mom and baby! 

The Scandinavian Tradition of Babies Napping Outside in Winter: Benefits and Safety Tips

Here in Ghana, snow and ice are unknown; however, mothers routinely “back” their babies, carrying them everywhere-to market, to farm, to church. It’s quite common to see mothers riding motorcycles with babies on their backs, and the children generally do quite well. Women carry babies in similar fashion throughout Africa, Latin America, and Asia. While being carried, these babies are also enjoying the comfort of being close to their mothers and in the outdoors as well.

When I was a child, one of our favorite Sunday School hymns was “This is My Father’s World” by Maltbie Davenport Babcock. Of all the hymns I know, this one describes the comfort God has given us through His creation. Here are the words:

1 This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–
His hand the wonders wrought.

2 This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.

3 This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we praise You and bless You for the comfort You give us through Your glorious creation. Help us to rejoice in that creation and to absorb the comfort You provide. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Welcome to a new month and a new Bible study. Throughout history, there have always been wars and rumors of wars. There have always been natural disasters-earthquakes, fires, floods, lightning strikes, and other calamities.

If you keep up with the news, you know that new threats and new fears raise their ugly heads daily. Sometimes, there’s a temptation to simply hide in hopes that things will be better by the time we come out of hiding!

In the midst of this chaos, where can we find comfort? For the next few weeks, we will be focusing on God’s words about comfort, for the Bible is packed with reassurance.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

When Saint Paul wrote these words, he was traveling through Macedonia, hiking long distances over bad roads, exposed to storms, bandits, poor food, and uncertain lodging, not to mention persecution from unbelievers. Paul had already been on trial, had already been stoned and left for dead, and had had suffered the loss of his status as a Pharisee, a teacher of the law, and any financial security he once enjoyed. By now, his eye problems might have been getting worse, making writing more difficult. These words were written by someone depending on God for everything.

On Christmas morning, we received a wonderful gift-a two-month-old grey male kitten, whom we immediately named Gabriel. But there’s one problem: Gabriel is semi-feral. For the first few days, we have confined Gabriel to a large cage with a litter box, food, water, and another small box with a towel so he has a den of his own. Poor little Gabriel misses his mother and mews pitifully; but when we try to touch Gabriel, he lays back his ears, retreating and hissing at us. We long to comfort Gabriel but so far, he refuses to allow us to touch him. We are walking around this situation with prayer, for we long to cuddle him, to pet him, and to reassure him. For now, we are speaking to him, reading the Bible near him, and speaking in soft low tones.

A few days ago, I was writing about our frustrations with Gabriel: One of the many names of Jesus is “Immanuel” or “Emmanuel,” meaning “God with us.” But why should God order that his Son be called by such a name? God wants all people to know that He is not sitting someplace far away but that He is as close as their heartbeats. But there’s a problem: Just as we struggle to communicate with little Gabriel the kitten, God keeps sending His Word by various means to communicate with people, many of whom aren’t listening or are deafened by the noise of the world around them.

All we want to do is to comfort Gabriel, to make him feel secure, and to demonstrate the depth of our love for him; yet, we struggle to reassure him. If one of us were able to speak “cat” or even to become a cat with the knowledge we have, it would be much easier to ease Gabriel’s fears. We celebrate Christmas because at Christmas, God accomplished what we cannot: He sent Jesus to be born as a baby to a poor family from an obscure village so that He could demonstrate His love and concern through Jesus. Jesus was also born so that he could love, minister, and die as a blood sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, conquering death, hell, and the grave.

Each time little Gabriel mews pitifully, our hearts break, and we beg God again to help us find some way to comfort him. Now if God is a loving Father, with a great heart of love deeper than anything we can possibly imagine, won’t He have compassion on His suffering children just as we have compassion for our kitten? When we cry, God hears us, even though help doesn’t always come in the form we desire. Again, Isaiah 55:9 reminds us that God’s ways are higher than ours.

One of the first things God did to comfort us was to create men and women so they would be able to help each other. Genesis 2:18 tells us, “And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” 

God also gives us friends to comfort us. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.“

Sometimes God himself comforts us. Genesis 5:24 tells us about a man named Enoch, who was a close friend. One evening, as Enoch was spending time with God, God said, “Enoch, why don’t you come home with me tonight?”
“Sure,” Enoch answered. That night, Enoch disappeared. He didn’t die, for his body was never found. The Bible tells us, “Enoch walked steadily with God. And then one day he was simply gone: God took him.”

God includes Enoch’s story in the Bible to help us understand that He can do all kinds of things for those who love Him. But ever since Enoch, there have been other people who have received God’s comfort in the midst of suffering, just like Saint Paul.

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How should we treat Bible verses about comfort? Sometimes, the number of verses on a given subject seems overwhelming. Rather than give up, simply scroll through the verses until you find one or two that speak to you. Print up those verses, put them on your cell phone, post them where you will see them as daily reminders, and memorize them. Bible study is good, but cherishing verses that comfort you is also important.

In closing, let me share one verse that always brings me joy: Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” While you might worry that you can’t trust God, you can always ask Him to help you. Let’s pray.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, many of us are afraid to trust You because we fear You will fail us. Please comfort those fearful people and help them to trust where they cannot see. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Luke 2:39-40 When they finished everything required by God in the Law, they returned to Galilee and their own town, Nazareth. There the child grew strong in body and wise in spirit. And the grace of God was on him.

41-45 Every year Jesus’ parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up as they always did for the Feast. When it was over and they left for home, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents didn’t know it. Thinking he was somewhere in the company of pilgrims, they journeyed for a whole day and then began looking for him among relatives and neighbors. When they didn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem looking for him.

46-48 The next day they found him in the Temple seated among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. The teachers were all quite taken with him, impressed with the sharpness of his answers. But his parents were not impressed; they were upset and hurt.

His mother said, “Young man, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been half out of our minds looking for you.”

49-50 He said, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be here, dealing with the things of my Father?” But they had no idea what he was talking about.

51-52 So he went back to Nazareth with them, and lived obediently with them. His mother held these things dearly, deep within herself. And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people.

It all started out so well. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem for Passover. While Luke doesn’t mention it, by this point, Jesus probably had several younger siblings who went along as well. If Joseph and Mary were struggling to control a bunch of little kids in the midst of a chaotic crowd, that would explain why they lost sight of Jesus. After all, Jesus was now twelve and about to go through his bar mitzvah, at which point he would be considered as a man who could help make up a minyan, a group of ten men for prayers. Jesus was close to several of the other families from Nazareth; he probably had attached himself to one of those. But once free from Jerusalem and its craziness, Joseph and Mary realized that they hadn’t seen Jesus in more than twenty-four hours and that he wasn’t with the other travelers from Nazareth.

Fearing the worst, Joseph and Mary returned to Jerusalem. After checking the place where the family had lodged, Jesus’ parents went to the temple. As they entered the temple, they could see a large group of scholars clustered together around a much smaller figure. Quietly approaching the group, they realized Jesus was at its center, and the scholars were taking turns asking him questions. What shocked Joseph and Mary was the attitude of the scholars, for they were listening to Jesus seriously, treating him as if he were one of them.

“Jesus!” Mary gasped. “What are you doing?”

“Oh hi, Mother,” Jesus replied.

 Perplexed and angry, Mary continued, “Young man, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been half out of our minds looking for you.”

“But Father, Mother,” Jesus replied,” why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be here, dealing with the things of my Father?”

Mary and Joseph were confused and upset. What did Jesus mean by this statement? What other Father was Jesus referring to, if not to Joseph? Joseph looked at Mary, and Mary looked back at Joseph, shrugging her shoulders.

Finally, Joseph asserted himself, “Well, son, while we are glad that you have such hunger for the things of God, we must return to Nazareth.”

“Certainly, Abba,” Jesus replied. Jesus went around the circle, courteously taking leave of each of them individually.

“Young man, when your parents give permission, you really must return. You show unusual promise,” the eldest scholar stated.

“Oh, thank you, sir. You are too kind. I will certainly return,” replied Jesus, smiling to himself. Little did those scholars realize that Jesus was already thinking years ahead, anticipating that return. By then, many of those men would already have died. Jesus hoped they had heard enough that they would truly know God in His glory and power.

Bowing to all the august group once more, Jesus followed his parents out of the temple and down the steps to the road that led back to Nazareth. Rejoining the group, Jesus returned to Nazareth, to his father’s shop, and to village life. But Mary remembered Simeon’s prophecies and Hannah’s songs. In the stillness of night, Mary wondered what Jesus would eventually do.
“Had they done the right thing by retrieving Jesus from the temple, or should they have allowed him to find his own way home? Were Joseph and she interfering with Jesus’ ministry? How would they know when it was time for Jesus to begin that ministry? It certainly wasn’t easy knowing that Jesus was divine and that at some point, he would leave Nazareth for the larger world.”

If we ignore these few verses, we fail to learn from an important portion of Jesus’ life. After exhibiting his mental and spiritual brilliance, Jesus returned to Nazareth, where we hear virtually nothing about him until he presents himself to John the Baptist at the River Jordan at age 30. For eighteen years, Jesus lived quietly and obediently with his parents, working with his father as a carpenter and perhaps as a stone mason and a part-time farmer. What kind of pressure did Jesus encounter to become married? Ancient rabbis advised age eighteen as the ideal age for young men to marry, although girls might marry as soon as they began menstruating. But there were also some people who remained celibate, with John the Baptist being a prime example.

What kind of pressure did Mary and Joseph suffer because Jesus did not marry? Remember, this family is living in a small village where everybody knows everyone else’s business-or at least thinks they do! Each time Mary fetched water from the village well, she could expect a barrage of questions from the local gossips. “So, Mary, this son of yours, Jesus? Is he actually going to remain single? He’s making a good living, so why doesn’t he pick one of our girls to marry? I can suggest at least three different young ladies, any one of whom would be thrilled to marry him.”

Meanwhile, Joseph would be enduring similar queries. “Joseph, what’s wrong with your eldest son? He seems normal, so why hasn’t he married already? Or has he taken some kind of religious vow? Why don’t you simply meet with one of the local families and select a wife for him?”

Gotquestions.org has this to say about Jesus and celibacy:

Since Jesus was the ideal and model man, it is easy to wonder why He did not marry and father children during His earthly life. As a hard-working and skilled carpenter, a man with a magnetically good character and winsome personality, and with His years of fame and miracle-working, it is likely that more than one woman gave Him opportunity to marry.

No Scripture directly answers the question of why Jesus never married. Several possibilities have been suggested to explain Jesus’ singleness:

1. Jesus did not marry because He had limited time on earth. His strenuous travel and demanding work load would have prevented Him from rightly fulfilling the roles of husband and father. And a wife would have been a distraction to Jesus’ primary mission. A married Jesus would have had to place His wife’s needs above those of the world He came to rescue (see 1 Corinthians 7:32–35).

2. For three years, Jesus lived as a homeless healer-teacher (Luke 9:58). He would not have asked any woman to share such a life. While He now waits for His marriage to His betrothed Bride, the Church, He is preparing for her a heavenly home (John 14:2–3), readying for her a perfect and eternal place of protection.

3. Jesus knew that He had come to die (Isaiah 52:13–53:12; 1 Peter 1:19–20; Luke 18:31–33). If He married, He certainly would leave a widow, probably with small children to rear alone. He was incapable of deliberately causing such unnecessary pain.

4. If Jesus had married, His widow most likely would have been glamorized, idolized, deified, and likely physically endangered because of her relationship with Jesus.

5. Another reason that Jesus didn’t marry is likely that He did not wish to produce a blood successor or generate debate over who that successor would be or whether or not His successor should also be considered the “Son of God.” Jesus’ purpose was not to establish an earthly kingdom or a dynasty (see John 18:36).

6. Jesus did not marry because of His uniqueness. In his History of the Christian Church, Philip Schaff writes, “Jesus’ poverty and celibacy have nothing to do with asceticism, but represent, on the one hand the condescension of His redeeming love, and on the other His ideal uniqueness and His absolutely peculiar relation to the whole church, which alone is fit or worthy to be His bride. No single daughter of Eve could have been an equal partner of the Savior of mankind, or the representative head of the new creation” (Vol. III, p. 68). Schaff goes on to explain, “While Jesus was fully human, and therefore fully capable of perfectly fulfilling all aspects of marriage, He also was fully divine. Therefore, no one with only a human nature could be a suitable mate for Him.”

7. Jesus did not marry because He was not on earth to choose one woman above all others. He came to rescue and restore all who would receive Him. For Jesus to form a marital relationship with one woman would inevitably have confused generations to come about the meaning of His relationship with His spiritual Bride, the Church, to whom He was already betrothed (Ephesians 5:25–27; Revelation 19:7–10; 21:9; 22:17; 2 Corinthians 11:2). Jesus reserved Himself for His true, eternal Bride. If He had picked one woman to elevate above all others, He would have contradicted and undermined His ministry to all.

8. In human marriage, husband and wife become “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). If the divine Jesus, who knew no sin, married a sinful woman (“for all have sinned,” Romans 3:23), His relationship to His wife would have raised some confusing uncertainties. If Jesus had become “one flesh” with a sinner, would that connection have tainted Him with sin? If they had had children, what kind of nature would these children have had? As physical children of the Son of God, what kind of relationships would they have had to God the Father?

These ideas reinforce the New Testament’s descriptions of Jesus as the ideal Man, the only purely righteous and good One who clearly and consistently pointed to eternity. Jesus did not marry because human marriage was not necessary to His mission of saving the world. Although marriage is a picture of Christ’s relationship with the church (Ephesians 5:31–32), it is only a temporary state in light of eternity. Those who by God’s grace through faith are included in that Bride of Christ have every reason to anticipate with eagerness Jesus’ coming to receive them into greater glory and joy than they ever have known on earth.

For eighteen years, Jesus absorbed everything there was to learn about village life, using those illustrations in later sermons. Jesus also remained obedient and prayerful. But never ignore the sacrifices made by Joseph and Mary. Instead of celebrating Jesus’ marriage and baby namings, Jesus’ earthly parents had to remain patient, tolerating vicious criticism and embarrassing questions from their friends and neighbors. Blood sacrifices are over swiftly, but this sacrifice lasted nearly two decades. Jesus was called to be the Savior of the world. Mary and Joseph were called to raise, protect, and defend Jesus until he left for ministry, leaving an example for all of us. May God help us to remain faithful, even when we must wait decades for God to act!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remain faithful, even when the fulfillment of Your will takes a long time. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 2:19-20 Later, when Herod died, God’s angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt: “Up, take the child and his mother and return to Israel. All those out to murder the child are dead.”

21-23 Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother, and reentered Israel. When he heard, though, that Archelaus had succeeded his father, Herod, as king in Judea, he was afraid to go there. But then Joseph was directed in a dream to go to the hills of Galilee. On arrival, he settled in the village of Nazareth. This move was a fulfillment of the prophetic words, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Twice God has spoken to Joseph in dreams, and now God speaks one final time. An angel appears in a dream ordering Joseph to return to Israel because “all those out to murder the child are dead.” Wicked King Herod dies, but there’s still danger. King Herod the Great has been succeeded by his son Archelaus, a weak, vicious man who has no problems slaughtering those who oppose him. Archelaus rules half the territory his father ruled, so God warns Joseph once more to settle in Nazareth in the Galilee. Joseph is a carpenter; however, he may also be a stone mason, skills that would be very welcome in a village.

Nazareth proves to be an excellent location for the Holy Family. Not only can Joseph provide necessary services for Nazareth, but the Romans are also building Sepphoris, a model village about 4 miles from Nazareth. The ruins of Sepphoris are open to tourists today, and the magnificent mosaics are well worth viewing. It’s possible that Joseph might have worked on some of the construction projects at Sepphoris.

One pastor’s wife used to tell us, “Blessed be nothing!” Why does God want His Son to grow up in a small village? Even though Jesus is the Son of God, he needs to fully experience what it means to be the “son of man,” and village life can teach that better than any other location.

1. Jesus needs to understand poverty. Throughout the world, the poor are far more numerous than the rich. Jesus needs to know down to the marrow of his bones the work it takes to provide for a family. Evidence suggests that Joseph likely farmed in addition to doing carpentry or stone masonry. How else will Jesus understand farmers scattering seed, or a village lady desperately searching for the one silver coin she has lost or a shepherd seeking out the one foolish sheep stranded in the mountains? And how else will Jesus be able to crack jokes about a man so unobservant that he runs his face into a beam of wood carried by a carpenter because he’s searching out specks of dust in his neighbor’s eyes?
2. The relative poverty of Nazareth prepares Jesus for the poverty he will face during his ministry. Once Jesus leaves the family home in Nazareth, he will never be able to claim anyplace as home again until he reaches heaven. Jesus will walk everywhere he goes and will depend on others to feed him. When Jesus calls out a Pharisee for failing to order his servants to wash Jesus’ feet, it’s because those feet have walked long distances over dirty rocky paths that day. There is no evidence to suggest that Jesus owns more than one set of clothing, automatically giving him sympathy with the poorest of the poor. Even more telling, when Jesus and Peter need to pay the temple tax, Jesus tells Peter to go fishing and to reach into a fish’s mouth for the coin that will cover both of them.
3. Jesus must fully understand the temptations common to the poor. Proverbs 30:7-9 tells us, “Two things I ask of You—do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion. Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.…” Even though Jesus is the Son of God and has passed through severe temptations, he continues to be tempted for the remainder of his life. It can get bitterly cold in Israel. Think of Jesus and the disciples, passing through a village on a chill evening as others are withdrawing into small cozy homes perfumed with the fragrant odor of spicey soup. As the little group proceed up the street, local citizens enter their courtyards, baring them against night dangers. Will someone invite Jesus and the disciples in or must they struggle to find food and shelter? Without exception, Jesus must resist the temptation to become his own providence, to miraculously provide for his followers and himself. The moment Jesus fails to rely on his Heavenly Father, Satan has already gained a victory.
4. Jesus must fully understand what it means to be a social outcast.Face it, nobody is going to beg a poor person to come to their home without an ulterior motive. Even the relatives of poor people are likely to view them in terms of the work they might get from them while handing out a meager reward. Jesus must live this reality so that he can teach about it. In addition, Nazareth is in the Galilee, a region noted for a mixture of Greco-Roman culture plus an overlay of Jewish piety. Jews in other places sneer at the Galileans, feeling they are semi-heretics, poorly educated, and certainly second-class Jews.
5. Jesus needs poverty for credibility. Poor people won’t accept Jesus’ messages if he finishes teaching and runs back to a gated compound where he can enjoy a luxurious lifestyle being catered to by lots of servants.

Matthew 20:28 “For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Jesus doesn’t need wealth, for ultimately he will own the riches of heaven. But Jesus does need poverty, for the poverty of Nazareth, its socially unfavorable location, and the struggles that ensue will combine to shape Jesus and to fit him for ministry. As our friend was fond of saying, “Blessed be nothing!”

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we bless You and praise You for sending Jesus to Nazareth, where he would learn the lessons and gain the experience necessary for his ministry. Thank You that no experience, no suffering, is ever wasted in Your Economy. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 2:11 “They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.

12 In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.”

 By the time the Magi found Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, the family was still in Bethlehem; however, Jesus was several months old and might even have been walking. This is a bigger thing than we realize, for this little family was about to have to run for their lives. Now that Jesus was a toddler, his body was much stronger than if he had been a newborn. The Magi were thrilled and immediately bowed and then opened their gifts, rich gifts such as neither Mary nor Joseph had ever seen.

What about those gifts? Again, David Guzik tells us: When they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh: It was common – especially in the East – that one would never appear before royalty or a person of importance without bringing gifts. Considering who these wise men believed the young Child to be, it is not surprising that they gave such lavish gifts.

i. The idea that there were three wise men comes from the fact that there were three gifts. We may say that gold speaks of royalty, incense speaks of divinity, and myrrh speaks of death. Yet it is almost certain that the Magi did this unawares; they simply wanted to honor the King of the Jews.

d. They presented gifts to Him: The precious gifts were not presented to Mary or Joseph, but to Jesus Himself. Yet undeniably, the infant Jesus did not use or spend any of these precious gifts, but His parents used them, hopefully wisely, on His behalf and benefit.

i. In the same way, when we give to Jesus today, we do not give to Him directly, but to His people, who use those gifts on His behalf and benefit – and hopefully wisely.”

What the Magi didn’t know as they were presenting those gifts was that Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were about to become fugitives. That gold from the Magi would support the family once they had to flee to Egypt and may have even helped them when they later came back from Egypt to settle in Nazareth.

That night, as the Magi were sleeping, the eldest among them suddenly awoke. God had just warned him in a dream, and he and his companions needed to leave immediately. Moving as silently as possible, the entire company packed up. As experienced travelers, these men could gather their things efficiently. Nobody needed a light, for the moonlight was bright that night. Leading their camels and the donkeys that had accompanied them, the Magi and their servants quietly left Bethlehem, passing Jerusalem on a secondary path that would lead them northward and eastward to safety.

What about the routes the Magi took to and from Jerusalem and Bethlehem? Scholars have suggested the routes traced on this map as a possibility. The big challenge would have been escaping Bethlehem without going through Jerusalem. But these Magi were seasoned travelers and very savvy about finding guides with local knowledge. It’s quite possible that the Magi presented their gifts and then quietly left Bethlehem at night after the gates of Jerusalem had been closed. If the caravan was able to take a back road and keep their camels from making too much noise, they could reach the fords of the Jordan pretty swiftly. The big trick would be leaving without Herod’s spies noticing anything. But perhaps Herod was so certain that he had deceived the Magi that he failed to assign spies or else God blinded their eyes. At any rate, the Magi made it safely back home.

So, the Magi made it to the East safely; that trip took 500-1000 miles, depending on where the various members of the company were from. What about Joseph, Mary, and Jesus? As soon as Herod realized that the Magi weren’t going to report to him, he would be livid!

Luke 2:13 After the scholars were gone, God’s angel showed up again in Joseph’s dream and commanded, “Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this child, and wants to kill him.”

Once more, God speaks to Joseph in a dream. Some scholars estimate that the Holy Family would have traveled a total of 2000 kilometers or 1240 miles round trip from Bethlehem to Egypt and back to Nazareth. (https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253276/the-holy-family-traveled-more-than-1200-miles-from-israel-to-egypt-and-back) There was a large Jewish community in Egypt, and Joseph headed there. Egypt was a Roman province outside Herod’s jurisdiction, giving the Holy Family legal protection as well.

14-15 Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother under cover of darkness. They were out of town and well on their way by daylight. They lived in Egypt until Herod’s death. This Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached: “I called my son out of Egypt.”

16-18 Herod, when he realized that the scholars had tricked him, flew into a rage. He commanded the murder of every little boy two years old and under who lived in Bethlehem and its surrounding hills. (He determined that age from information he’d gotten from the scholars.) That’s when Jeremiah’s revelation was fulfilled: A sound was heard in Ramah, weeping and much lament. Rachel weeping for her children, Rachel refusing all solace,
Her children gone, dead and buried.”

Once more, Herod proved how bloodthirsty he was when his power was threatened. Lacking specific information, Herod wasn’t taking any chances and ordered the slaughter of all little boys two years old and younger in the vicinity of Bethlehem.

We read this account and wonder why God allowed these innocent little boys to die. Why couldn’t God have worked some kind of miracle to spare all those lives? But we don’t know how God may have tried to influence Herod. It’s quite possible that some of Herod’s religious advisors attempted to mitigate his fury, only to find themselves in danger of being killed themselves. We must remember that the whole universe tilts on the axis of free will. People are not puppets, and they can make terrible choices. Think about the six million Jews who died in concentration camps during World War II. Herod and Hitler had a lot in common.

Traditionally, there are twenty-five different sites where the Holy Family is supposed to have stopped to rest on their way to Egypt. Traditional hospitality would have demanded that such travelers be welcomed, fed, and given water and a place to sleep. Only in heaven will we know the names of those who helped this couple and their little son to escape wicked King Herod. As we approach Christmas, we should look around us. Do we have anything that we might give to someone else? Even in industrialized countries, many children shiver in the cold for lack of warm clothing or attend school with empty stomachs. We might feel that we have very little, but we can still bless those around us. May God give us open eyes and soft hearts so that we will be able to help those around us as did those nameless hosts when they sheltered the Holy Family.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please help us to share what we have, trusting that You will multiply it. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 2:Scholars from the East

2 1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory—this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”

3-4 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

5-6 They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:

It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”

7-8 Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”

9-10 Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!

Who were these scholars from the East? From Pastor David Guzik: “They were not kings but wise men, which means they were astronomers. There were not only three, but probably a great company. They seem to have come not on the birth night, but probably several months later… Being from the East, they would have been among Jews who were exiled from Judah and Israel centuries before. “That many Jews were mixed with this people there is little doubt; and that these eastern magi, or philosophers, astrologers, or whatever else they were, might have been originally of that class, there is room to believe. These, knowing the promise of the Messiah, were now, probably, like other believing Jews, waiting for the consolation of Israel.” (Clarke)

iii. There was a general expectation of a messiah or great man from Judea. Not very long after Jesus was born, the Roman historian Seutonius wrote: “There had spread over all the Orient an old and established belief, that it was fated at that time for men coming from Judea to rule the world.” Tacitus, another Roman historian of the general period, wrote: “There was a firm persuasion…that at this very time the East was to grow powerful, and rulers coming from Judea were to acquire universal empire.” (Cited in Barclay)

iv. “The tradition that the Magi were kings can be traced as far back as Tertullian (died c. 225). It probably developed under the influence of Old Testament passages that say kings will come and worship the Messiah (cf. Psalms 68:29, 31; 72:10-11; Isaiah 49:7; 60:1-6).” (Carson)

v. Church traditions even tell us their names – supposedly Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar. You can see their supposed skulls in the great cathedral at Cologne, Germany.”

What about that star? Guzik continues:

f. For we have seen His star in the East: There are many different suggestions for the natural origin of this remarkable star. Some say it was a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn; some, other planetary conjunctions; others suggest a supernova; and some think of comets or a specifically created unique star or sign.

i. Whatever it was, it is significant that God met them in their own medium: He guided the astronomers by a star. This was also in fulfillment of Numbers 24:17: A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel. This was widely regarded by ancient Jewish scholars as a Messianic prediction.

ii. Notice, it was His star: “The star was Christ’s star itself, but it also led others to Christ. It did this very much because it moved in that direction. It is a sad thing when a preacher is like a sign-post pointing the way but never following it, on his own account. Such were those chief priests at Jerusalem: they could tell where Christ was born, but they never went to worship him; they were indifferent altogether to him and to his birth.” (Spurgeon)

g. And have come to worship Him: The wise men came first to Jerusalem, assuming that the leaders of the Jews would be aware and excited about the birth of their Messiah. The wise men are about to find that this wasn’t the case at all.

This website https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/6-things-to-know-about-the-star-the-magi-followed.html gives us fascinating information:

Here are six things to know about the star the magi followed:

1. Visibility

The star was visible from at least as far away as Persia, the former kingdom of Babylon, which was in the same region as modern-day Iran.

The magi came from afar, with many scholars believing at least some of them came from modern-day Iran. Some others hypothesize that they could have come from as far as India. While tradition depicts three magi, wise men, or even sometimes translated as kings, the Bible is unclear about how many came. The number three comes from the three gifts they brought: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

2. Foretold by Daniel

The magi may have been looking for the star as a sign in the sky heralding the Messiah because they followed the teachings of Daniel. 

One of the many questions that goes unanswered in the Bible is, how did these wise men from far away know to be looking for a sign in the sky for a Jewish king? How did they know this Jewish king would hold significance for them?

While there are a few theories, one of the stronger ones is that the magi were men who served in the city of Babylon, followers of the teachings of the Prophet Daniel. During the time of the exile, 597 BC to 538 BC, several young Jewish men rose to prominent positions at the Babylonian court, serving God in a pagan land. This included Daniel. It is possible that people influenced by Daniel during his lifetime continued to follow his teachings, his religion, and looked forward to the same promise of redemption. Astrology was a practice at the time, so they may have been looking to the heavens for signs of the promises of Daniel’s God.

Other theories suggest that just like Jewish religion made its way into Africa, such as with the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10) and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) it may have made its way deeper into parts of central Asia. In recent years, people groups further into Asia have claimed to be followers of Judaism, and are theorized to be one of the lost tribes of Israel. If true, their existence could support the idea that worship of the one true God was more global than often believed at the time of Jesus’ birth.

3. Astrological Phenomenon

Some astronomers believe the “star” may have been a comet, a supernova, the planet Jupiter, or the constellation we call Aries. Others believe it was an alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, the moon, and the sun in the constellation of Aries.

While it can be easy to assume the star over Bethlehem was a bright, universally visible spot in the sky, the Bible is actually silent on how many people were able to see it, and – if it was visible to the multitudes – what people thought of it. The magi knew what it meant, and they followed it, but if it was noticeable to others is unclear.

Part of why the magi may have been aware of it was because they may have studied astrology, the reading of the location of the stars and the planets. When looking for a scientific explanation, there are only a handful of things that can create that bright of a light in the sky. If it was not just a star miraculously placed there by God for that purpose, which is entirely possible, then God could have used other natural wonders to create such a bright light, including supernovas and planets.

4. It Disappeared for a Time

The star disappeared for a time when the magi were in Jerusalem, which is why they asked Herod where the child was.

The Magi followed the star to Jerusalem, and stopped at Herod’s palace for clarity. Then the Bible records, “After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was — the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was” (Matthew 2:9). The star rose again after they left the palace in Jerusalem to go to nearby Bethlehem.

God used this star, whether a natural or unnatural phenomenon, to guide the magi so they could provide the appropriate gifts for the young Messiah, and so they could testify to His arrival.

5. Herod’s Ignorance

King Herod did not seem concerned about the appearance of the star, but only at the birth of a king who could be a rival to his throne, meaning he may not have understood Scripture well.

The Bible records, “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.’ When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born” (Matthew 2:1-4).

Herod did not seem to recognize the significance of the star, nor why the birth of this king of the Jews would be a blessing for all mankind. Even though many people at this time did not understand the true purpose of the Messiah’s mission, Herod only saw a threat to his power.

6. It Was Long-Awaited

The star was prophesied as far back as the Pentateuch, by Moses. In the Book of Numbers, the Prophet Balaam was given a prophecy about a coming ruler who would strike down Israel’s enemies. The details included some about his birth, as recorded in the Book of Numbers:

“I see him, but not now;
I perceive him, but not near.
A star will come from Jacob,
and a scepter will arise from Israel.

He will smash the forehead of Moab
and strike down all the Shethites”

(Numbers 24:17).

The star referred to Jesus, but also to the star that signaled his birth as a sign for the people who were looking for it. These Scriptures may have been what the Magi used to look for a Savior.

The bright star in the dark sky has become one of the symbols of Christmas and new hope for believers around the world. Even non-believers will often put a star at the top of their tree in celebration. Christians should use this symbol as a way to share the gospel, the good news about the reason that Christmas is celebrated.

“Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

Jesus came to pay the price for the sins of all people, and if they put their faith in him, repenting of their sins, then anyone can be saved from hell and into eternal life.”

This star appeared at a time when people scanned the skies for signs of God’s will. There were plenty of Jewish astrologers in Jerusalem as well as astrologers in other places. Why didn’t the Jewish astrologers recognize this star? One possibility is that God did not reveal the star to everyone. Prior to the arrival of the magi in Jerusalem, nobody seemed to be agonizing over the appearance of a super-bright star and its meaning. This suggests that God selectively allowed the magi to see the star. Yet a second possibility is that the magi were actively searching for the Messiah while many others were only giving pious lip service to the idea. For those in comfortable socio-religious positions, the idea of a Messiah might have posed a threat to their status and well-being. What if the Messiah failed to agree with them?

In the end, the magi followed the star, worshiped Jesus, and then discretely returned home by a route different from the one they had followed to reach Jerusalem. Herod was left fuming in his palace. Tomorrow we will discuss what happened next.

There’s a popular Christmas meme that reads “Wise men still seek Him.” Are we seeking Jesus, or are we copying the Jewish scholars who refused to pay attention and who lost out on the greatest news of all time as a result? May God help us to continue to listen to Him!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, You have promised that all who seek You will find You. Please help us to find You and to obey You completely. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 2: Scholars from the East

2 1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory—this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”

3-4 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

5-6 They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:

It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”

7-8 Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, “Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I’ll join you at once in your worship.”

It’s 1956, and my third-grade class is performing at the Christmas program at my grade school in our small Midwestern town. Now the boys are singing/shouting, “We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts, we travel afar. Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.” It’s a wonderful Christmas carol, one that helps us remember those Persian scholars, the magi, who were searching for a Savior. We know these men found the infant Jesus. But who was King Herod the Great? How many wise men were there? Where did they come from? Why did God warn them not to return to Herod? For the next few days, we’re going to take a close look at this story, for it hold the key to much of Jesus’ future ministry. While it’s true that we celebrate the coming of the Magi on the Feast of Epiphany January 6^th, we’re going to speed things up a little.

Pastor David Guzik in his Enduring Word Bible Commentary gives us some excellent information. For the complete discussion, see https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/matthew-2/  

We need to know King Herod’s nature. “This was the one known as Herod the Great. Herod was indeed great; in some ways great as a ruler, builder, and administrator; in other ways great in politics and cruelty.

i. “He was wealthy, politically gifted, intensely loyal, an excellent administrator, and clever enough to remain in the good graces of successive Roman emperors. His famine relief was superb and his building projects (including the temple, begun 20 B.C.) were admired even by his foes. But he loved power, inflicted incredibly heavy taxes on the people, and resented the fact that many Jews considered him a usurper. In his last years, suffering an illness that compounded his paranoia, he turned to cruelty and in fits of rage and jealousy killed close associates.” (Carson)

ii. “Augustus, the Roman Emperor, had said, bitterly, that it was safer to be Herod’s pig than Herod’s son. (The saying is even more epigrammatic in Greek, for in Greek hus is the word for a pig, and huios is the word for a son).” (Barclay)”

2. (3) Herod is troubled at the news brought by the wise men. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

a. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled: Herod was constantly on guard against threats to his rule, especially from his own family. He assassinated many family members whom he suspected of disloyalty. His being troubled is completely in character.

i. Herod, who wanted to be accepted by the Jews whom he ruled, was not a Jew at all but an Edomite, and Rome recognized him as a vassal king over Judea. The Jews tempered their great hatred of him with admiration for his building projects, such as the magnificent improvements made to the second temple.

ii. Barclay reminds us of what a bloody, violent ruler Herod was: “He had no sooner come to the throne than he began by annihilating the Sanhedrin…he slaughtered three hundred court officers…he murdered his wife Mariamne, and her mother Alexandra, his eldest son Antipater, and two other sons, Alexander and Aristobulus.”

b. He was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him: The fact that all Jerusalem was troubled with Herod is significant. This was due either to the fact that the people of Jerusalem rightly feared what sort of paranoid outburst might come from Herod upon hearing of a rival king being born, or because of the size and dignity of this caravan from the East.

i. This trouble is again testimony to the greatness of Jesus, even as a young child. “Jesus of Nazareth is so potent a factor in the world of mind that, no sooner is he there in his utmost weakness, a new-born King, than he begins to reign. Before he mounts the throne, friends bring him presents, and his enemies compass his death.” (Spurgeon)

Reading how terrible Herod was, we might ask, “Why would God use someone like this in any fashion?” But we must remember Isaiah 55:9, which tells us that God’s ways are far higher than ours. God uses Herod’s paranoid query to his court scholars to help the magi learn where to look for baby Jesus.

Herod has already annihilated the Sanhedrin, has slaughtered 300 court officers, and has murdered several of his own family members. When Herod summons the remaining priests and Jewish religious scholars to his palace demanding to know the birthplace of the Messiah, these men rush to the court. These men quote Micah 5:1 “But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, least among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old, from ancient times.”

Bethlehem was known as the City of David, and the Messiah was to come from David’s royal lineage. In Herod’s day, Bethlehem was a tiny village about 6 miles from Jerusalem. Modern Bethlehem is practically a Jerusalem suburb. The wise men take off for Bethlehem while Herod rubs his hands in glee, thinking that he has duped these crazy astronomers into doing his investigation for him. At the same time, Herod is likely wondering, “Bethlehem? Why Bethlehem? Why not Jerusalem or some other major city. Bethlehem has nothing to recommend it-what a scraggly little place!

When we read the Christmas story, we frequently read only from Luke 2 and stop once the angels have returned to heaven and the shepherds have returned to their sheep. But if we unpack that story, there are many more miracles to discover. Here, God uses one of the most despicable rulers living to help the magi find Baby Jesus. Are the magi taken in by Herod’s oily pronouncements? Are you kidding? The magi are men of experience and Herod’s reputation has even reached Persia. So the magi take the advice of Herod’s scholars and try to distance themselves from Herod as they continue their quest.

We must always be prepared for God to do amazing things in our lives, using the most unlikely people. Here a tyrannical murderer plays a role he fails to understand. What is sad is that the religious scholars who advise the magi on the Messiah’s location refuse to heed their own advice, but remain in Jerusalem where they piously continue to await a Messiah who has already come just a short distance from their courts.

At Christmas and throughout the year, we have a choice: will we be like the magi, willing to risk everything to come to Jesus, or will we copy those religious scholars who could have come to Jesus but who failed to do so because they cherished other notions about what the Messiah would look like? As another Christmas carol urges, “O come, let us adore him!”

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord Jesus, we adore You for coming to earth as a helpless baby and enduring all the stresses of a human life. Thank You for Your great gift of salvation. In Your mighty and precious Name, Lord Jesus. Amen.