Matthew 2:9-23 KJV
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.
21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

I want to talk about that star stopping over the palace, the location of who the Wise Men by nature followed. What I mean is they see the wealth of Israel through the eyes of the palace and not the temple. They came from a culture of both pagan and Jewish. Yet this culture would probably had a religious rule at the time. They looked for Israel to have a new king in the palace, not understanding what the Messiah should be, only seeing the Messiah as a ruler like King David, perhaps, one that would allow free religion and thought. Even God gave Adam and Eve freedom to obey who they wanted, but not in his garden without consequences. The religious leaders are looking for a political power that going to rule the world without necessarily prohibiting religion freedom. Through out scripture idolatry is torn down.

As Christian I can get the mentally of a Christ power nation, but it not a reality until Christ returns. The reason being you have to deal with others with the sin nature of unbelief until their salvation. Meaning to restrict a sinner is like tying a wild dog or horse to a stake in hope he will eventually become tame. If he becomes tame is it only to gain his freedom. What does this have to do with the wise men, it has to do with their thinking of the time of David, a time of war but peace, maybe more of King Solomon. By nature not understanding what the Messiah was and is, they went to the king house only to discover that the star stopped over where their heart said the king should be born. Remember David heart was right with God, despite the fact his son heart was not at least for a time. When the religious world of Jerusalem told that baby would be born in Bethlehem, the wisemen were now looking to God of the scripture/Bible to locate the child. That star is said to move across the sky to where the young child laid. We got to understand the distance to Jerusalem to Bethlehem in reality not a long journey. In fact Joseph and Mary would take Baby Jesus to the temple to perform religious sacrifices eight days after being born, and they must of settle in Bethlehem, for their flight would come after they visiting the temple. We know with this information that it was at least a week or more before the wise men found Jesus in a house. When did the Wise men arrive in Jerusalem and had Mary and Joseph left the temple and traveled back to Bethlehem at this point? A huge hypothesis for the event of the wise men and the star they followed to find the baby. Jesus might of still been in the cradle still, and so with that thought did wise men make it to the appearance of Christ, not on the first night he was born. There importantance in the story is clear, we can not follow the traditions of faith in the form of legalism only Jesus. An ancient sign and stories exchanged on this child that was born and prophesied about. Shiloh(Messiah) was born. The wise men then gave gifts of gold, frankinsence and myrrh. Money needed for the baby, Frankinsence and myrrh probably ointment use for the baby, like one might give lotion and baby oil today. It was also of royal goods of a kingly baby that the gifts are presented. It is the difference between JC Penny and Walmart as far as quality. Okay sitting and trying to think of a baby store and my mind is a blank. Sorry, we just dont' have any in my area that I am aware of.

Now the wise men are warned in a dream not to return to King Herod. Joseph is also warned in a dream. These two dreams are important. The wise men feared God enough to obey him and to heed his word and warnings, but it was the smack/smite on the corners of Moab. Believers we need to yield the warning, God gives us, even when we understand them not. Did they know that Herod would kill the babies, the wise men might not of. Would Joseph and Mary understand the wepting in Rama and Rachel would not be comforted, maybe. Joseph took the dream seriousness enough to take his wife Mary to Egypt with Jesus. What seldom told is the trip to Egypt was really not as far as the wilderness journey, it was the shortcut that Abraham would of use and Jacob children in regards to a short hope and skip and jump for food during famine or trade. Why was it not used at the time of the wilderness journey, perhaps to teach Israel to trust in God.

Who was Rachel in scripture, but the wife of Jacob, who worshipped other gods and would die in Bethel having Benjamin. Children would cry for Rachel.Just as Rachel children would cry for there babies that Herod had killed. Seven woman of Israel did they know where Jesus had been taken. Seven woman(the seven towns around Jerusalem). Did they know that Jesus had not been slain in the events of Herod slaughtering the infants. How much did Mary and Joseph know as they traveled, however they did not return to their home in Nazareth until it was safe to return.

Perhaps this is why the priest asked if Jesus was the Son of the blessed at the trial? Maybe they did not know who he was, who they sought to crucify. Perhaps those that crucified had not believe the miracles because of their mourning, their weeping. Mary of Bethany wept at tomb of her brother and could not be comforted, and when Christ came, she reminded her of the possibility of a resurrection. Lazarus came forth from the grave. Only anger the Priest more.

We can shape a picture easily of why leaders came after Jesus and even the religious ones without regards to prophesy. It is still the question why did someone not just ask. It would of been simpler. Yet they looked for the prophetic signs like many do today, without ever seeing and not believing. Yet those that God called for a purpose to bow to his Son, to carry his Son, to hold and love his Son, their eyes were opened because of faith in God.

The one in charge of the political world killed those babies, God did not, though he knew it would happen, he did not prevent it. He harden the hearts of Israel, the seven woman that surrounded the baby. God does and can perserve his people. It does not mean bad things will not happen, it only means God will must be performed. Make your prayer be, open my eyes that I might see, and open my hears that I might hear and believe, receive and obey your word today.

Dear Heavenly Father, open my eyes that I might see, and open my hears that I might hear and believe and receive and obey your word by your Spirit. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Numbers 24:17 KJV
17 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.