“Behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’” (Matthew 2:1-2)
The Israelites had known for centuries that God would send a Messiah, a King of the Jews, who would rescue His people. They had their holy Scriptures containing many prophecies about Him.
Some of the prophecies concerning this coming Savior were also known to other people groups. For example, a non-Israelite, fraudulent “seer” called Balaam was used by God to announce that “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). This prophecy had probably become widely known, and God now used it to announce to “wise men from the east” that the King of the Jews was born. These men were magi, specialized in the interpretation of heavenly signs. God spoke to them in their “language”: they saw an extraordinary star and understood that a King was born.
This story shows that Jesus did not just come for the Jews. God announced His birth to Gentiles as well, in a way they understood. Jesus is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32).
How does God reveal Himself to you? Do you understand His “language”?