Wise Men, Part 2: Wisely Following All the Way to Jesus

David W Palmer

(Matthew 2:9–10 NKJV) When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. {10} When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

In their journey to find Jesus—the true and brilliant “light of the world”—the wise men were following the only light they had—the star they had seen rise in the East. Like following the leading of the Holy Spirit through the written word until we find the living word (Jesus), they had made their way to Jerusalem. Then sadly, they made a mistaken assumption that any of us could make. Because the revelation they received from God included the idea of finding a king, they presumed they could easily and quickly find him in the royal city. So in effect, they went to the “world” and asked for help:

(Matthew 2:1–3 NKJV) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, {2} saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” {3} When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Their assumption that worldly king Herod would know the whereabouts of Jesus, would have been a bit like expecting a stray dog to be guarding the meat and then to happily hand it over. Herod should have been God’s representative; but in his heart, he was a representative of the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4).

To find the living Word and true light, we should never go to the world’s system or its experts—simply because it seems like they should know. No worldly shortcut can save us from the arduous process of following our star all the way … until Jesus—the Living Word of God—is revealed. No, you will find what you seek by staying focused on the written word; so back to the word it was for the wise men:

(Matthew 2:4–6 NKJV) And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. {5} So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: {6} ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

Thankfully, the chief priests and scribes pointed the wise men back to God’s written word. Again, like the lamp shining in a dark place, it pointed them in the right direction:

(Matthew 2:7–8 NKJV) Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. {8} And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

If the wise men had submitted to the worldly king’s deceptive offer to worship the baby, they would simply be handing Jesus over to be killed. In our case, we follow the trail of light in the written word until the living Word is revealed. When he is, he is very vulnerable in his infant state—just like Jesus lying in the manger. If, at that time, we betray him to the world, they will want to kill him off as quickly as they can. Why? Because they know that if Jesus’s living Word seeds are allowed to grow in the fertile soil of our hearts, he will one day rule the world.

In other words, when you hear from God; be like Mary who rushed for fellowship with Elizabeth—another true believer who could come into agreement with her. But don’t invite the world, or representatives of the world’s ruler, to come and inspect your word; no matter how much they pretend to be worshippers, their motive is to kill it off as quickly as they can.

(Matthew 2:11 NKJV) And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Joseph and Mary must have been absolutely astounded by this amazing display of attention to their young child: international travellers coming to bow to him in worship; and the gifts … amazing—probably more gold and precious items than they had ever seen before. Joseph and Mary must have been flabbergasted and awe-struck.

Of course, what they didn’t realize was that this was not only a true response to Jesus, but it was God’s providence—his ability to see a looming need, and his amazing love in providing for it ahead of time:

(Matthew 2:13–15 NKJV) Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” {14} When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, {15} and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Scripture doesn’t specifically mention how long Joseph and his new family had to remain in exile in Egypt, but it hints that it could have been several years: “was there until the death of Herod.” Thankfully, in his infinite wisdom and compassion, God had already provided for their international trip and exile through the abundant gifts of the wise men. Wow! God truly is amazing.

Today, let’s remember that when God’s living Word comes to birth in you like the daystar dawning in your heart, God has already foreseen everything you will need for its growth and fulfillment. What’s more, as well as your true destiny, he knows your immediate future; he knows what’s around the corner for you in the new year. God knows exactly what your next step is. So don’t worry; he has already seen what you will need, and he has prepared for your provision:

(Matthew 6:8 NKJV) “… your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

(Philippians 4:19 NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Also today, I encourage you; don’t yield to shortcuts in your journey to find Jesus—the living Word—for your next season in God. You have followed his leading in the word until now; you need to maintain your focus on his word—like the lamp shining in a dark place—until the full rhema is revealed, only then will you have found Jesus’s future for you.

Despite seeming to have expertise and an appearance of royalty, the world and its system can provide no shortcuts or ways to hasten the process. Their only motive is to kill Jesus—in the form of your fresh word from God—as quickly as possible. Keep following the trail set before you by the light you have. Keep going back to the written word; study, memorize, meditate, obey, re-study, meditate on it again and again, and sooner or later the word God is wanting you to receive will dawn on your heart like the rising of the morning star (the sun).

And remember, if we want God’s blessing, going to the ungodly for any sort of council is not the way to walk in it. There is simply no shortcut or easy way to God’s wisdom, revelation, or blessing, apart from meditating in his word … day and night. But do not ever walk in the counsel of the ungodly:

(Psalm 1:1–2 NKJV) Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; {2} But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.