Matthew 2

The Magi are interesting. We see them depicted as 3 harmless "wise men" in our Christmas plays, but I think they carried much more authority than that. They were "king makers." Their name is where we get our word magistrate. They were an order that existed since the time that Israel entered the promised land. Some think that Balaam (the guy with the talking donkey) was either a member of the order, or the one who established it. Later Daniel is made leader of the order by Nebuchadnezzar. And the sign that they were looking for is thought to have been given to them by Daniel. The magi were not astronomers, as many people assume today, but they were oneirocritics - interpreters of dreams.

The fact that Herod did not try to intimidate them or pursue them, even though he was greatly "disturbed" by them shows that they were more powerful than him. And I don't think there were only 3 of them. They brought 3 gifts, but I think they traveled in a squad. Knowing how God works, I bet there were actually 12 of them.

Again, contrary to pop-culture, they did not find Jesus in a manger, but in a house. This means they probably arrived some days or weeks after he was born, so Joseph and Mary would have been able to find better lodging by then.

Now the part that really gives me goosebumps is that Joseph and Mary are poor, but God is going to send them to Egypt to live for many years. And how does He provide for them? By the 3 gifts that the Magi give to Jesus. All three gifts are extremely valuable, so Joseph and Mary would have been able to sell them and live off the money from them for a very long time.

And two more times God speaks to Joseph in dreams, and Joseph doesn't ask questions, he just simply obeys. That is so inspiring to me.