We just celebrated one of the quietest parts of the Advent and Christmas Season. January 6 marks the date of the wise men from the east described in Matthew 2:1-12 went to see the Christ Child. There are several amazing parts to this story, but I only want to concentrate on the astrology portion of the story, highlighted in a World Magazine essay in December, 2006.
In the essay, Bill Boyd notes that to most observant Jews, the magi were sorcerers and idolaters, because they were astronomers and astrologers. But it is magical that they noted the birth of the Hebrew king, yet it seems that no one in Israel did. God used nature to speak to non-believers to call them to Him and fulfill His purpose. That is the true magic of Epiphany to me.
Romans 1:18-20 sums up Paul's argument that no one is without excuse for knowing who God is:
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. And the Magi got the message. That is just an amazing part of the story to me.
How would we react if non-believers came to tell us what God was doing? Would we dismiss them? Listen to them? Fear them? Ignore them? Probably a little of all of those and some I haven't listed.
Let us never forget that God is LORD of ALL CREATION, and He can choose to speak through whomever he wishes. Our part is to have discerning ears that can hear his voice.
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2 comments:
I like how you highlight the fact that God does use non-belivers for his good purpose. I have seen and believed this for some time.
I was not aware that scholars believe the Magi to be astrologers-sorcerers and such.
Your blog is as interesting as you are! Keep up with the KOOK (Keeper Of Odd Knowledge) status!
Thanks. I'm blushing. Pretty much any time you use the stars to tell stories or forecast events, you are using some form of astrology. And in those days, that would get you an invitation to the stoning pit outside the town.
Thank goodness the Magi were treated better than that.
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