Would I Have Listened?

We’ve been talking about interesting things from the Christmas story over the past several days and one thing about the story has been floating back and forth in my mind.

The Wise Men – what if they hadn’t listened?

To God I mean.

What if they hadn’t listened to God’s direction and had heeded King Herod’s direction instead?

King Herod wanted nothing of this “Messiah” who was to be “King of the Jews”, because that threatened his very position. However, he acted as if he was “interested” shall we say, and secretly (the NASB says) ascertained when the star appeared so that he could deduce just how old this Child was so that he could take matters in his own hands.

And that he did.

He had all baby boys ages 2 and under murdered just to be sure he covered all of his bases. Scholars differ on their opinions of just how many babies King Herod had murdered in an effort to kill our King Jesus but the numbers ranged between 20 and 200 babies.

All innocent.

Yet Herod was not successful.

Because the Magi listened to God.

They listened to a God they could not see instead of a ruler that they could see.

Would I have done the same?

It’s so much easier to believe and trust in someone who we can see, touch, and physically hear than to by faith listen to God, but faith is what pleases God according to Hebrews 11:6. Faith or Tangible? Hmmm, it’s a little hard sometimes.

Listening to God totally changed the direction of the Wise Men. Matthew 1:12 says they departed for their own country by another way. Sometimes following God’s instruction will totally change our direction, sometimes opposite of the direction of those we can see, touch, and physically hear, that is why it is so important to know Him, His Word, and His voice. If we don’t, we’ll be going the wrong way on a one way street and wondering why we are crashing all of the time.

Would I have listened?

Or would I have dismissed the dream and God’s direction because of direction from someone right in front of me?

What about you?

This may seem silly to you, but when I think of the Wise Men climbing up on their camels, bidding goodbye to Joseph, Mary, and King Jesus at the end of their visit, I kind of chuckle inside. Can’t you just picture them steering their camels in the opposite direction of Herod’s castle, and as the camel strut along, discussing amongst themselves, “We got you Herod! And you actually thought we would come back and tell you where this baby was???!” as they laughed on their Merry Christmas way home.

Just a thought.

By the way the winner of last week's drawing for the book Unafraid by Francine Rivers was Julia Meyer. Congrats, my friend! I hope you enjoy.




Royal Princess Daughter Of The King