Day 3: Matthew 2:1-12

What was the Star of Bethlehem? There have been debates over this for centuries. Was it a comet or meteor? An angel? Some supernatural object that God placed specifically in the sky during that time? The theory that I personally believe is that it wasn’t necessarily a star, but an alignment of planets and constellations that signified to these “wise men” that something momentous had taken place. 

Well, isn’t that astrology? That’s devil worship! God wouldn’t use something evil to announce the birth of Jesus! That’s correct, God would not use something evil to announce the arrival of the Messiah. Astrology is the belief that the “stars” are responsible for events that happen here on earth. But what does the Bible say? Genesis 1:14 says that when God created the stars in the sky that they were to “be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.” In the book of Job God directs Job’s attention to the constellations as a sign of His greatness(Job 38). The stars and constellations are not there for us to worship, but just like all of Creation they show the greatness and majesty of the Creator.

So take a minute and think about what happened on the Fourth Day of Creation, if, as I believe, that the Star of Bethlehem was really an alignment of planets and constellations. Before Adam and Eve had sinned, before they were even created, God set the planets and the stars in the sky and along their determined paths so that they would align at just the right moment to announce the birth of his Son.

God knew. He knew that Adam and Eve would be deceived. He knew that humanity would fall into the darkness of sin. He knew what it would take to restore that broken relationship. And still he went through with it. He was laying the groundwork for our salvation and restoration before he even formed Adam from the ground. 

This was always the plan. The birth and sacrifice of Jesus was put into motion from the Fourth Day of Creation. When you understand this, you begin to understand, in some small way, the immense love that God has for us. One of my favorite passages in the Bible is found in Ephesians chapter 3. Verses 18-19 say this:

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”