I could perhaps spend a week in Messaic Prophecy just at Christmas time. There are so many reference to the Messiah in Old Testament that if you take time to read and look for them, you know they must be speaking of the Messiah. Yet to speak of the Messiah is to speak of also our Lord Jehovah as well, so the error can come easily in studying prophecy as whether it only speaking of Jehovah(God the Father) or the Son. The Holy Spirit part of the Godhead is not looked at as being the Messiah, but he is in his own right, by the conviction of the word to the people to change to believe in and to obey God and his word. Without faith and obedience to God's Spirit we fall at being saved upon the earth, without Christ our salvation is not complete unto eternity. Balak a king order Baalam to curse Israel. Baalam a false prophet was told by God he only be able to speak the words he gave him. One of the things Baalam prophecied about was the coming Messiah. Baalam a prophet to the land of the Moabites in the Old Testament found in Numbers 24. If you got time study Numbers 23 and 24. I only done a quick reference in the continual scripture study verse that speaks of the first prophecy concering the Messiah to a nation of Gentiles. The importance of this one prophecy is it speaks of a star coming out of Jacob and his Sceptre shall rise out of Israel and shall hit the corners of Moab and destory the children of Sheth(Moabite children) This perhaps a reference to King David, but it also true of the Messiah. What is a star in Numbers 24:17 but a builder and low country of Judah(speaking of a carpenter in Bethelem) and one that is ablazed or bright shining, speaking of Christ the Messiah as God Omniscience(all knowing)(in the BDB Hebrew and Greek dictionary and in Strong's Hebrew and Greek dictionary) a Prince (a star). When you heard the words Star of Bethlehem it coming from the prophecy of Numbers 24:17 originally.You have to almost dig in the original translation of the Bible Hebrew in the Old Testament and Greek and Aramaic in the New Testament sometimes to get accurate definition or understanding of a word or phrase. It translated into one word star in Numbers 24:17. To understand the Magi came from the East meaning Moabite country probably because of this one prophecy to see a King when the star first appeared because of its brightness gives insight to events in Matthew 2 of the Magi or wisemen are following a long ago prophecy, there was not any clear direction beyond coming westward in following a star. Remember as we head into the story of the Shepherds and wisemen the events foretold, also have wide picture of the forecasting of the Messiah presents in the since of travel. For instance the wise men see a star and follow it, how wide is that sky. Look up into the night sky, how close can you get to accuracy of the direct location one star is pointing to. It was a sign in the heavens such a child was born, but was it leading them in a direction or only to a land where the child would be born. Explaining the depth of the searching for the Christ child, how the proclamation of his birth would of spread. All they knew was little town in judah and a very bright star. Now was Israel told about the Moabites coming?

The imagery and prophecy paints a picture in Isaiah of the coming king and visitation both from camels(dromedians) and shepherds. Yet is the area in scripture the same place as the people of the Moabites, the answer is yes. East of Jerusalem the city of David, but south of Bethelem the city of David where he was born. Direction misguided by where the palace is in connection to the birth place of both King David and Jesus. This direction in Isaiah of east looking for a king to rise up in the city of the palace is why the wise men would be lost. Yet without the prophecy of the wise men being known why they were lost is a mystery because they are following a bright star. Shepherds are not a mystery but they too come to see the child and are prophecied as coming. Jesus would be visited because He is a shepherd king. Guiding and leading the people as a shepherd and king.

What do we know about the night Christ is born from this passage. Have you ever seen a really dark night in the sky. Well if you haven't you need to watch the sky a little more often outside of the city lights. The truth is the best night skies are seen when the lights of man are not visible, for most time all the stars in the sky are shining. Yet on this one occasion it was so dark that the only light visible is the one star announcing the Christ child birth. The sign the king of Israel has been born. This passage In Isaiah 60 is very clear on this one night to come. A holy night declaring the coming of our Lord and Savior. What about the manger it is made of wood from where? In verse 13 we find fir and pine tree perhaps box together to make a place of sanctuary. Christ sanctuary or temple mount on his appearance to those visiting was a manger that night. Covered with straw and hay to give a comfy place to rest. Labanon being a place of fir and pine trees. Wood was often carried in from different areas when building or construction was underway.

Prophetic place of Christ birth. The image is clear. So has we continue the story of Christ let us remember The time period the time of peace, the night sky being pitch dark and strangers coming to see this child, some taking a longer time to get to the place of Christ birth and others traveling straight there. The question whether Jesus is the Messiah fully seen through prophecy woven in both the people of Israel and the people of the gentiles, because they both sought after God and his promises. Both sides desiring the one thing that seemed to cause division because of differences of one group believing one is better then another. Instead of in history coming together to worship God.

Dear Heavenly Father, as your Son is illuminate for all to see in the world, may we come and worship you and your Son in his glory and majesty. Let us sing for the King of Israel Christ our Lord is born in a stable, laid in manger visited by wise men and shepherds. Announced to the world that He has come. Let prophesy be told. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion: Numbers 24:17 KJV I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.