DIVINE INSIGHT

“Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way!" (Matt. 2:12 NKJV).

To counter the evil intentions of Herod, the magi were warned not to return to him. They were given insight by God. Thus we want to note - the source of the insight, the substance of the insight, and the submission to the insight.

The source of the insight – “Being divinely warned in a dream.” God was the one who gave the insight to the magi. If we want good insight on what to do in any situation, we need to get it from God who knows what is going on in the world. Too many folk are trying to get insight about life from the world, such as from psychologists and psychiatrists; but the world is lacking in such insight and wisdom.

The substance of the insight – “Divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod.” The insight had to do with the travel plans of the magi. Herod wanted them to return to him, but God warned them not to return to Herod. This warning exposed Herod’s desire to worship Christ as being false. Herod, like most governments in the world, is no friend of Christ. Herod’s professed religious interests were deceitful. He had a hidden agenda for his show of religiosity.

The submission to the insight – “They departed into their own country another way.” The magi recognized that God outranked Herod and so first and foremost they submitted to God. When orders conflict, we need to obey the highest authority. This principle is found in Acts 5:29, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” One of the immediate rewards for the magi in obeying God was the saving of their lives. Obedience to God does has its rewards.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“True wisdom is the accurate perception of what is really important!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Warned

In Matt. 2:12 we read, “Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way” (NKJV).

Warned is the Greek word chrēmatizō (χρηματίζω = khray-mat-id'-zo). It means be given a revelation, receive a warning. In classical Greek, chrēmatizō means, among other things, to negotiate (often financially), to transact business, to give or receive a message from an oracle (a wise and highly regarded person).

In the Septuagint chrēmatizō means to speak or give some kind of divine pronouncement. In the New Testament chrēmatizō is associated with divine revelation, or a word from God. It was used of the way God spoke to the Magi and Joseph, Mary’s husband. Just as God had sent the star so He sent this communication. The entire journey of the magi is under God’s immediate direction. God is guarding the holy Child.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah would be the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6)

New Testament Fulfillment – John 14:27; 16:33

Did You Know…

Isaiah predicted that those from Sheba will bring gold and frankincense to the King, whom they will praise (Isa. 60:6). In Matt. 2:11, the Wise men brought gold (symbolizing royalty), frankincense (incense used for worship), and myrrh (used for burial) and worshipped Jesus.

Bible Quiz

True or false: Bethlehem is known as the City of Abraham.

**Answer to last week’s trivia: What sign were the shepherds supposed to look for in searching for the baby Jesus? “A babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).

Everyday Expressions Alluded to in the Bible

“Go through the motions”

“For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death” (Rom. 7:5 KJV).

“Go through the motions” - The expression “go through the motions” carries the idea of mechanical, unemotional activities. The phrase “motions of sins” refers to the passions, evil affections, and corrupt desires of the unregenerate heart. Simply put, the unsaved person is under the control of his old nature; he is dominated by the power of sin. The law instead of helping the person live under it, tended to stir up the sinful passions. But thank God, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ releases believers from the old bondage to the Law.

Did You Know – Christian History

Benajah Carroll was born December 27, 1843 in Carrollton, Mississippi. He was a Baptist pastor, theologian, teacher, and author.

When Benajah was five, the family moved to Texas. Almost from the day he learned to read, he was a devoted student, devouring whatever books were available on the frontier. He had an amazing memory and could recall at will material he had read years before - even to the point of giving the page locations! Eventually he was able to read 300 pages a day without neglecting his regular responsibilities.

In spite of his Christian upbringing, Benajah became a fanatical atheist, authoring a book on his radical views. At the start of the Civil War, he joined the tough Texas Rangers. Carroll served in the army of the Confederate States of America from 1862-1864. The way things were going with Benajah, it did not appear that he would be a friend of the church. But we can never assume any heart is beyond God’s reach; with God all things are possible. Benajah was wounded in the war. Released from the army in 1865, he attended an old-fashioned, Methodist camp meeting were he was converted to Christianity after taking up the preacher’s challenge to experiment with Christianity.

Always intensely interested in higher education, Carroll taught at Baylor Theological Seminary and published 33 volumes of works. He is best known for his 17-volume commentary, An Interpretation of the English Bible. In 1908, at age 64, Benajah became president of Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary which he helped to found.

He was known as an influential denominational leader. He served on several state and Southern Baptist Convention committees, making notable addresses in the interest of various areas of denominational work. He gave particular emphasis to evangelism, prohibition, Christian education, and the work of home missions.

Benajah Harvey Carroll died November 11, 1914, and is buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, Texas.

A Little Humor

After the Christmas pageant, a 6-year-old was asked if he remembered the gifts that the Magi brought to Jesus. He thought for a minute then said “gold, frankincense, and humor.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Christ was born here below that we might be born from above!”