
Often, they’re referred to as the Three Wise Men, because of the three gifts brought: gold, incense, and myrhh. Of course, the joke is that their visit was followed by the three Wise Women who brought gifts of greater practicality: fresh diapers, casseroles for the week, and wine. (a fictitious bit of humor, to be sure)
The gifts actually brought to the Christchild and his earthly parents were of immense practical value. Herod would soon be on the rampage, seeking to kill all the baby boys in the area. Joseph needed to flee to Egypt and the valuables presented by the Magi surely helped to fund this escape.
But how did they get there? These three wise men/astrologers/”kings?” from the East who followed a special star hundreds of miles to find the Christchild. Who were they? Where did they come from? And how did they end up worshiping the Savior?
I believe it was Daniel’s influence – the Daniel of “Daniel and the Lions’ Den” fame. Nearly seven decades near the top of government leadership across two foreign empires (most notably, Babylon, 600 years before the birth of Christ), in charge of all the wise men, and so dedicated to sharing his faith…Daniel is a pretty good possibility. Surely he shared with the wise men of his day the prophecy in Numbers 24:17 – “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.”
You never know the impact you might have. Trust this: the same God who delivered Daniel will deliver you from or through the painful lions’ den experiences of your life in his own time and in his own way, as he sees best. And through your faith-filled, God-honoring words and actions, he will draw others to the Savior for his glory.
You never know the impact you might have. But God does. He has a plan. Trust him.
In Christ,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand