[Continued from Magi from the East]
Matthew 2:10-11, 13-14 NCV
When the wise men saw the star, they were filled with joy. They came to the house where the child was and saw him with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their gifts and gave him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. After they left, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt, because Herod is starting to look for the child so he can kill him. Stay in Egypt until I tell you to return. So Joseph got up and left for Egypt during the night with the child and his mother. And Joseph stayed in Egypt until Herod died. This happened to bring about what the Lord had said through the prophet: “I called my son out of Egypt.” [Hosea 11:1 “…out of Egypt I called my son…”]
Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, the Gifts.
The angel warned Joseph that they must leave the town of Bethlehem and go to Egypt and live there until the angel tell them when it is time to go back home again. What did they live on? The three gifts that Magi, the Wise Men gave to him, gold, frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense and myrrh are the sweet smelling liquid used as perfume. They were very expensive. These Wise Men gave gifts to the Child to show that Jesus was worthy to receive honor and respect as a future king.
God had provided a way for Joseph, Mary and Jesus to use the gold, and perfumes that help to pay for their place to stay, pay for food and pay for clothing. And perhaps Joseph had to buy all the equipment to start his business as a carpenter for a living for awhile until it was time to go back to their homeland, Israel.
What does this mean to me?
Perfect timing that God led Magi to travel from afar to find Jesus and gave gifts so Joseph, Mary and Jesus could escape to Egypt from the rage of King Herod who wanted to kill Jesus. Why? Herod didn’t want another “King” as along as Herod was the only King. What Herod didn’t know that it wasn’t the time for Jesus to become the King anyway. God provided a way for them, gifts to meet their needs and escape to Egypt for safety. Reading this story inspired me to keep trusting God for all things. There is a song called, “We Three Kings of Orient Are” and chorus that I like to share.
“O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.”
