After they had heard the king, [the Magi] went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:9-11a
“The star guides them to Bethlehem. This is the first time the star is actually said to move. The text leaves open the question of whether or not it had so moved previously. If it had not this could explain why the Magi had managed to get only as far as Jerusalem. They may have seen the star above Israel and assumed that its ruler would be born in the capital. But regardless of how much the star had traveled, its motion here seems to require a supernatural event…What the Magi recognize as divine guidance fills them, literally with exceeding great joy. They find the mother and child and prostrate themselves before him in worship.”
Craig Blomberg in Matthew: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of the Holy Scripture (NAC; Nashville: Broadman, 1992) 65-66.
We have neighbors that my wife is convinced “are searching” (somewhat like the Magi) and so I am praying for “divine guidance” specifically for them this morning. Know anyone like that?
Father in Heaven, you often reveal yourself to pagans who are searching. Do it this Christmas! By your Holy Spirit, open their eyes to see that your “divine guidance” can lead them to Jesus and the exceeding great joy that is only found in Him.
Without “divine guidance” we’d all be lost, and we’d have no joy. I am convinced that “divine guidance” that leads us to Jesus and exceeding great joy is one of the greatest reflections of God’s generosity toward us.
Father in Heaven, don’t merely guide searching neighbors, family members, and friends to joy this Christmas. Show us the way too, so that with them we may worship the Christ child this Advent season.