When Jesus was born, a star arose in the sky—a sign that a great king had been born. Was this star an alignment of planets? On December 21st, 2020, the giant planets, Jupiter and Saturn aligned, causing what some have called a once-in-a-lifetime event—the first sighting of the Bethlehem star in eight hundred years.
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2
The star drew these wise men—magi, interpreters of heavenly signs—from the east to Jesus. Had they read the ancient prophecy, "A star will come out of Jacob; a sceptre will rise out of Israel"? Numbers 24:17 Were these magi Jewish scholars from Babylon who studied the messages written by Daniel and the prophets?
Interestingly, the brightest star appeared in 2020 on the winter solstice — December 21st — the longest and darkest day of the year. Did God do this on purpose to illustrate that when the earth is darkest, He, the Lord of all creation, the light of the world, the brightest light in the universe, appears?
The world was dark when Jesus was born. It is dark today—a time of global upheaval and unrest. I can hear God saying, "Don't be afraid. When things look darkest, look up. My light will shine. Don't give up. As I came to Earth once, I promise to come again for you. I am preparing a beautiful place for you. I love you."Our God is awesome. We can trust Him with every part of our lives. He knows everything from how many hairs are on your head to how many stars are in the universe."He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." Psalm 147:4 God is beyond amazing.
God made this very cool promise for all people for all times."Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." Daniel 12:3 I hope we are being wise and turning others to righteousness. It's true, wise men still seek Him. Did you know astronomers have estimated there are more entire galaxies in the universe — each filled with billions of stars — than grains of sand on the Earth? Did you know the Bible says God numbers them all and calls them by name? God is beyond awesome. Words are inadequate.
This is my prayer for you. May the stars remind you God is faithful and keeps His promises. May you draw closer to God than ever before—so close you can feel His heartbeat. May God keep you in His care—surrounded by His love. I pray your life will point others to Him. Here is a link for a fascinating documentary on the Bethlehem star. https://youtu.be/exmbuX1NffU . Blessings, Beloved of God.