Today, I’ve been thinking about the wise men who traveled far and wide to bring gifts to baby Jesus. These men, sometimes called magi and sometimes called kings but never specified as only three in number, traveled from the east, probably Persia or Babylonia, and most likely belonged to a caste of priests who were well-versed in astronomy and astrology. To me, they are the quintessential story of those who seek Truth.
As astronomers/astrologers, they studied the stars. These are not Hebrew men who worshiped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, yet in observing the stars, they were in pursuit of answers. It is unlikely that they knew these divinely-inspired words written nearly a millennium prior in Proverbs 25, verse 2: “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” But, that is precisely what they did. They were ever-vigilant and followed the sign revealed to them; the star that compelled them to find the “King of the Jews,” that they might worship Him.
However, they, like all of us, were imperfect in their truth quest. Though the star was guiding them, they veered from the course and fell back on flawed rationale by seeking out King Herod and asking him about the whereabouts of the King of the Jews. This led Herod to try to have Jesus killed, but that’s a story for another day (entire story in Matthew 2).
The wise men then followed the star until it stood still over the house where Jesus was. At this point, “they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy” (verse 10). They were able to do what they came for: worship and give gifts to Jesus.
There are astronomical theories about what the wise men could have noticed in the patterns of the cosmos which are quite interesting, but I want to highlight what this story reveals about the heart of God: He sees what is within man and reveals Himself accordingly. These wise men, though probably practicing a pagan religion, were given the miraculous opportunity to meet and worship the Messiah. They were wanderers who were not lost, but rather were found. And, they found what they were searching for through their wandering.
Let’s allow our inner-wanderer to come out! Wander through questions and obstacles and be surprised and exceedingly joyful when answers are revealed. The King delights in those who seek.
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