Did You See the Star of Bethlehem?

Meditate and ponder the stars and planets in the sky.

After this interview (with Herod) the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:9-11 

Camel Crossing - Israel
The Wise Men are always depicted on camels.
Star of Wonder.
Did those camels know to follow the Star?

Those living in the United State can look in the southwestern sky tonight for an alignment of the planets Jupiter and Saturn. This alignment will give the illusion of a bright star, known as the Bethlehem Star. If you search on Google or other resources available to you on the internet you’ll discover that at the time Jesus was born a Bethlehem Star involved the constellation Leo with the star Regulus and the planets of Jupiter and Venus. It was a bright enough star that it got the attention of several magi, wise men, to travel to Jerusalem and then on to Bethlehem. It took them a while to get from their home country to Israel. The description of their encounter describes Jesus as “the child” in a house. It is thought that He was about two years old at that time. Right after the Wise Men departed Joseph and Mary left Bethlehem for Egypt and escaped the killing of all boys two years old and younger that was ordered by King Herod to protect his reign as king. God had a plan—get out of town quickly! Be safe. Of course God could have sent angels to protect Jesus any time, but this also allowed for the prophesy of Jesus coming out of Egypt to be fulfilled.

That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod's death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: "I called my Son out of Egypt." (from Hosea 11:1) Matthew 2:14-15

Look for the Bethlehem Star. What difference does it make in your life? Can you use it to describe what happened when Jesus was born…who Jesus is and what He has done for the world? 

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, just as Paul wrote…But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. Acts 20:24. Use me for your glory and honor today and every day.

Verse of Salvation ~ Look up to the skies above, and gaze down on the earth below. For the skies will disappear like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a piece of clothing. The people of the earth will die like flies, but my salvation lasts forever. My righteous rule will never end! Isaiah 51:6 

© 2020 Text, photos and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - https://www.blb.org 

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