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Shine
as a Star!
worthydevotions
“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.” Numbers 24:17
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the
firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and
ever.” Daniel 12:3
A
National Geographic article published a few years ago describing a real
celestial event which took place at the time of the birth of Jesus reminded me
of Risto Santala’s explanation in his book, "The Messiah in the
New Testament in the Light of Rabbinical Writings".
He wrote
about a conjunction of major planets that took place which could have led the
wise men from the east, to Israel.
Santala
reports that in 1603, Johannes Kepler observed a conjunction of Jupiter and
Saturn in the constellation of Pisces; he observed a "new, particularly
brilliant and strangely colored star between Jupiter and Saturn, which soon
faded."
Kepler
suggested that the Star of Bethlehem could have been such an event.
Later, Alfred Edersheim wrote, "There can be no doubt
that the most remarkable conjunction of planets -- that of Jupiter and Saturn
in the constellation of Pisces, which occurs only once in 800 years -- did take
place no less than three times in the year 747 A.U.C., or two years before the
birth of Christ (in May, October, and December). This conjunction is admitted
by all astronomers."
Santala writes, "The constellations of the zodiac were
generally identified with different nations, Pisces, for example, being
considered the patron constellation of Syria and Palestine, and the revealer of
the End Times.
“Saturn was associated with Palestine in Babylonian astrology, whereas
Jupiter was the royal planet, foreshadowing a political Golden Age. Thus, when
Jupiter conjoined with Saturn in Pisces it was obvious that the Ruler of the
End Times had been born in Palestine."
Whether
or not this was the "star" the wise men saw is debatable, but it
strongly suggests that a real and significant celestial event did take place
roughly at the time of the birth of Jesus.
As
millions around the world are celebrating His birth this week, we ought to
remember that one purpose for which God created the stars was, "for
signs." [Genesis 1:14]
But you
also, are a sign… a sign of His birth and of His life. Whether you realize it
or not, you also are a living, breathing, announcement of Messiah and of His
light.
And this
holiday season, with the spiritual darkness so rapidly increasing, your calling
and destiny is to SHINE!… to shine like the stars, in a darkening world,
exactly in the same way that His coming to Bethlehem was announced, "a
star out of Jacob…"
What a
destiny! Let us pray that as the season closes and the new year turns, we, His
people, will be filled with the oil of his Spirit which will fuel this shining…
even right up til the moment He comes, blazing back into this world…
Hallelujah
Worthy Ministries is a Christian organization based in Israel with a global outreach to more than 120 countries on a daily basis.
Though
we are an internet ministry, we are also significantly involved in the land of
Israel. Living in Southern part of Israel near the Dead Sea, we run Worthy News
and minister full-time to the many spiritually hungry people in our region.
Learn about our Project Hear O Israel.
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