First Advent of Christ
17
After the mission of the wise men had been accomplished, they
were purposing to return, and bear the joyful news to Herod of the
success of their journey. But God sent his angel in the night season
to turn the course of the wise men. In a vision of the night they were
plainly told not to return to Herod. They obeyed the heavenly vision.
“And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to
Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when
they were departed, behold the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph
in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and
flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod
will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the
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young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.”
The Lord moved upon the wise men to go in search of Jesus, and
he directed their course by a star. This star, leaving them when near
Jerusalem, led them to make inquiries in Judah; for they thought it
was not possible for the chief priests and scribes to be ignorant of
this great event. The coming of the wise men made the whole nation
acquainted with the object of their journey, and directed their attention
to the important events which were transpiring. God well knew that
the advent of his Son to earth would stir the powers of darkness. Satan
did not want that light should come into the world. The eye of God
was upon his Son every moment. The Lord had fed his prophet Elijah
by a miracle when upon a long journey. He could obtain food from no
other source. He rained manna from Heaven for the children of Israel.
The Lord provided a way for Joseph to preserve his own life, and the
life of Jesus, and that of the mother, by their fleeing into Egypt. He
provided for the necessities of their journey, and for their sojourn in
Egypt, by moving upon the wise men of the East to go in search of the
infant Saviour, and to bear him valuable offerings as a token of honor.
The Lord is acquainted with the hearts of all men. He directed the
course of Joseph into Egypt, that he might there find an asylum from
the wrath of a tyrannical king, and the life of the infant Saviour be
preserved. The earthly parents of Jesus were poor. The gifts brought
to them by the wise men sustained them while in the land of strangers.
Herod waited anxiously for the return of the wise men; for he was
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impatient to carry out his determined purpose to destroy the infant
King of Israel. After he had waited long for the knowledge he desired,
he feared his purpose might be thwarted. He reasoned thus: Could