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“We Have Seen His Star”
39
No Royal Guard
At Bethlehem they found no royal guard to protect the newborn
King. None of the world’s honored men were there. Jesus was
cradled in a manger, with His parents as His only guardians. Could
this be the One who would “raise up the tribes of Jacob,” be “a light
to the Gentiles,” and “salvation to the ends of the earth”?
Isaiah
49:6
.
“When they had come into the house, they saw the young Child
with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him.” Then
they poured out their gifts—“gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” What
a faith they had!
The wise men had not seen through Herod’s plot, and they pre-
pared to return to Jerusalem to tell him of their success. But in a
dream they received a message to have no further communication
with him. Avoiding Jerusalem, they set out for their own country by
another route.
Joseph also received a dream warning Him to escape to Egypt
with Mary and the Child. Joseph obeyed without delay, leaving at
night for greater security.
The wise men’s inquiries in Jerusalem, the resulting interest
among the people, and even Herod’s jealousy drew the attention of
the priests and rabbis and directed minds to the prophecies concern-
ing the Messiah and the great event that had taken place.
Determined to shut out the divine light from the world, Satan
used his evil skills to their maximum to destroy the Savior. But He
who never slumbers nor sleeps provided a refuge for Mary and the
Child Jesus in a heathen land. And through the gifts of the wise men
from a heathen country, the Lord supplied the funds for the journey
to Egypt and for their stay in a land of strangers.
Herod’s Terrible Massacre
In Jerusalem, Herod waited impatiently for the wise men to re-
turn. As time passed and they did not appear, he became suspicious.
Had the rabbis seen through his plot, and had the wise men purposely
avoided him? The thought made him furious. Through force he
would make an example of this Child-King.