The Young Family Farm »

Masthead header

They came from the east… (Day 2 – Our Journey with the Magi)

This is for those of you who want to journey with the Magi with us for the next 2 days…I’ll do my best to post what we share with our little ones each night—they are LOVING getting to take the Magi to a new place in the house after our devotional by the way!!! So tonight we shared the importance of stepping out in faith…even when you feel like you are alone…and trusting God to provide others to run this journey with you…

Matthew’s book in the Bible gives the fullest story of the Magi in the Bible–and from Matthew we are only told they are from the east. Tradition, however, has passed down and it has been historically documented that there were, indeed, three; it is also documented in historical writing that they were from the families of Shem, Ham and Japhet–therefore one of them would have been Ethiopian. Their names are given as Casper, Balthasar and Melchoir—and it is said that their bones were discovered in the 12th century by Bishop Reinald of Cologne which are now exhibited in a casket a cathedral of that city.

During this time, Magi were key leaders in the government. For these leaders to leave their city and place in the government would have been quite a big deal. To tell those who were under them, in their care and who followed them that they were leaving to follow a star to see the Son of God–would have not only raised eyebrows but might have also risked their reputation being the wise men that so many saw them to be. Magi were not only powerfully politically, but they also had priestly duties and were seen as holy.

Their journey was not a short one–but most likely over 900 miles by camel. Not an easy journey…and if scholars are correct that they were each from different countries–then you can imagine each of their journeys had to begin seperately…and then together–one day they came…as they got closer to Bethlehem following the star that would take them to the Light of the World. Many times our journeys…the most difficult ones the Lord asks us to take…will be like the wisemen, and we feel like we begin it alone in faith. However, God is always with us–willing to lead and guide us as we look to Him and follow Him step by step. Many times, the Lord will also provide others to journey with us—who kind of meet us half way yet they become just a big part of our journeys. Together we encourage one another and cheer one another on—pick one another up when one falls and rejoice as we get closer to the finish line that the Lord has called us to.

The Lord always guides, and He always provides. And with Herod ahead at their next stop in Jerusalem…they would need one another for what was ahead. Thank you God how you always provide for us on our journeys. Thank you that you are always with us–and that in your great grace you also provide others to journey with us. Help us to step out in faith and follow you before we see others doing the same–and to trust that you will provide others to encourage us along the way when we need it most.
Please keep my sister, April, and my brother-in-law, Harris in your prayers…they have packed their bags…their sweet girls have commissioned them off…and they are in the air as I type to Africa to minister to the orphans and widows in Zambia. For all of you who participated in the recent “It’s a Girl Thing” project, there are almost 200 womens kits in THESE bags…

I’ll be updating their journey there as April is able to share. They will be feeding the Wiphan community a Christmas meal, training the girls and ladies how to use the “It’s a Girl Thing” kits and catching up on business for Wiphan schools. Please keep them in your prayers–and if you are interested in hearing more about Wiphan–April will be at the women’s retreat to share more and how you can get involved!!!

More pictures to come from Isaac’s first Christmas…but how’s THIS for a Christmas kiss?!

And he LOVED eating snow:)

Have a wonderful night!!!

SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE WITH A FRIEND SUBSCRIBE
Asher Collie - December 27, 2010 - 10:11 am

Did the Zambia crew get off okay with all of the snow? I’ve heard there are a lot of flights canceled from the ATL airport. Look forward to hearing about their trip. 🙂