The Chosen Star ~ Valerie Ronald

 

                                                                                                (photo credit: © Alyn Wallace)

 I am called Al Na’ir, the Bright One. This is my story of how Elohim, Creator of all, called me from among the stars of His universe to perform a most sacred task. Countless are we who light the night skies, though not by Elohim, who determines our number and knows each of us by name. I will never forget His voice calling me, like the sound of a rushing mighty wind.

I was formed in the Pleiades cluster, one of a group of stars with a common motion through the firmament. Each of us were made unique, differing in splendour from star to star. Our voices, if that is what the sound of stars can be called, sang together at the dawn of our creation with praises to Elohim.

A frisson of expectation had been rippling throughout the heavens for some time when I first heard Elohim’s voice. I dare not venture to know why He chose me to be a herald for the advent of His most pivotal epiphany. Pride has no place in such a holy service to my Creator.

Specific coordinates of my position in the heavens caused my luminosity to be particularly evident to astronomers throughout Babylon and Mesopotamia, during the reign of Phraates V. Influential men of those lands, known as Magi, read the night skies for portents of what was to come. They gathered knowledge from cultures far and wide, including the Jews. As my light grew, the bright glimmering recalled to their minds the foretelling in ancient manuscripts of a Jewish Messiah, an anointed king whose birth would be confirmed with the sign of a star.

“I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult.” 1 

Elohim stirred a desire in the hearts of certain Magi to undertake a journey to see this king for themselves. The wise men and their retinue traveled many days from east to west, across deserts and mountains. Their destination was Jerusalem, the Jewish holy city, where they inquired, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

So this was my calling! I, Al Na’ir, had been raised by Elohim to herald the birth of His son, the Messiah, foretold for centuries as the coming King. Could any star be given a more profound mission?

Disturbed by the Magi’s inquiries, the reigning king, Herod, discovered that the small town of Bethlehem of Judea was where this Messiah was to be born. He sought out the Magi to find out exactly when they first noticed the sign of my radiance shining in the night sky. Then he sent them to Bethlehem to search for the child and report back with his whereabouts so he could worship him also. In fact, he was plotting to destroy this perceived threat to his rule.

Nightfall revealed swaths of twinkling stars flung across the ebony sky, as beauteous as a sea of diamonds. I rose high among them, proceeding across the cosmos to guide the Magi to the objective of their search, where I stopped. Their joy at my appearance caused me to glimmer and shine all the brighter, just for them. Beneath my beams stood the house where the child resided ˗˗ Heaven’s glory now abiding in a humble village home tucked in the hills of Bethlehem ˗˗ Elohim wrapped in newborn skin ˗˗ God incarnate. As miraculous as I knew the endless expanse of the universe to be, it paled in comparison to the wonder of God becoming human.

Bowing down before the child with His mother, the Magi worshiped Him. They knew His significance, though many before and after them would deny who He was. They knew He was not just an earthly king, but One who had come to be the Savior of the world. Their costly gifts signified what God had revealed to them. Gold to honor a king, frankincense, often sprinkled on temple sacrifices, and myrrh, an unusual gift for a newborn king as it was used in embalming the dead. All were gifts testifying to the child’s royalty, His deity and His eventual sacrificial death on behalf of humanity.

My mission in that epoch of time is complete. I am most grateful to Elohim for choosing me to light the way for the Magi to find the newborn Messiah. Celestial celebrations mark His birth, yet I am sobered by the knowledge that He came to be a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. As a heavenly luminary, I am but a pinprick of light compared to the glory of the Morning Star, Jesus Christ, destined to live again as eternal Lord and King, whose light will shine forever. Praise His holy name! 

1  Numbers 24:17 NKJV

More of Valerie's work can be read on her blog:

https://scriptordeus.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

The View from Above by Steph Beth Nickel

The Heavenly Host waited in the wings, watching a remarkable scene unfold before them. Their commander was announcing the Messiah's birth to a group of shepherds. Shepherds! Who could have imagined it? Who except the Lord God Himself?

"Can you believe it?" The angel may have looked imposing, but he was full of questions.

"Of course I can. After all, this is what ADONAI said would happen," his closest companion said.

"But Mashiach, the Messiah, born in the obscure little town of His earthly ancestors ... That, in itself, is almost unbelievable. The Saviour born to an unassuming virgin, to be raised by a carpenter."

The angel stretched his wings. "The prophets of old proclaimed all these things."

"They did. But who could have imagined it would all come together this way?"

The second angel turned his attention to the commander. "Do not be afraid," he began.

"Easier said than done," the angel whispered.

"What was that?" the first angel asked.

"There they are. Shepherds watching over what must be the most stubborn and foolish creatures the Creator ever made. These humans have to keep the sheep from being eaten by wolves and bears through every watch of the night, no matter the weather or time of year. Wolves and bears ... who would just as likely make off with one of the shepherds if they were half as oblivious as their charges. The shepherds may not be afraid of the predators, but when the commander appears to them, lighting up the night sky, how must they feel about a directive not to be afraid?"

The second angel considered that for a moment. "You're right. Just one more mystery we must accept by faith."

"You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth ..."

The first angel shook his head. "Yeshua exchanging His royal robes for strips of cloth. Isaiah had it right when he said ADONAI Elyon's plans are higher than the plans of all humanity."

"And His thoughts higher than theirs."

The angel nodded. "Look at those men. Huddling in fear despite the commander telling them not to fear and his promise of Good News and great joy."

His companion smiled broadly. "Can you imagine how they would feel if ADONAI stood before them?"

"And, in a way, they will soon be standing before Him." He shook his head in wonder.

"And here I thought I was the one thinking clearly. That may be the most profound thing you've ever said."

"ADONAI Elohim gives us wisdom and promises it to the men and women He created—"

"That's the only way they have any hope of grasping what's going on tonight."

The first angel nodded again.

The second held up his hand. "The commander has said all the Lord instructed him to."

"And now we get to join in the most amazing event since creation. I wonder if people will write about this night."

"For millennia to come, I'm sure."

With that, they joined the rest of their company proclaiming, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth shalom to men of good will."

Scripture taken from the Holy Scriptures, Tree of Life Version*. Copyright © 2014,2016 by the Tree of Life Bible Society.  Used by permission of the Tree of Life Bible Society.

Pregnant, Alone, and Scared On Christmas Eve by Bob Jones

The darkest night of my life and I was alone and scared. My little girl dreams of this moment always included my mother. But she was a long ways away. It wasn’t supposed to be like this - a cold cave at the end of an arduous journey with a baby on the way.

 

More than a week earlier my betrothed and I left our hometown of Nazareth, in the northern highlands of Galilee. We travelled 90 miles to the town of his ancestors: south along the flatlands of the Jordan River, then west over the hills surrounding Jerusalem, and into Bethlehem.

 

I lost count of all the ups and downs on our journey. Hills and more hills. The temperature was in the 30s during the day and it rained like heck. Nasty. Miserable. And we had to snuggle tight at night to keep from freezing. The dawn awoke us more than once to snow. Our trip took almost nine days, twice the usual time because of my pregnancy. Heavy, woolen cloaks were all that protected our bodies from the rain and snow. Tube-like socks given to us by our neighbour and the enclosed shoes kept our feet dry.

 

One of the most terrifying dangers we faced was the heavily forested valley of the Jordan River. The threat of bandits and ambush haunted us every day. We were aware of the lions, wild boars, and bears native to those woods. Fortunately, we didn’t see any, or they didn’t see us.

We appreciated our daily bread. Breakfast was dried bread; lunch was oil with bread; dinner was herbs with oil and… bread. The diet gave me the giggles as it made me think of manna in the wilderness.

Finally, we arrived in Bethlehem and none too soon. We had just settled into our makeshift accommodations – a cave housing livestock - when my water broke. Poor Joseph. He rushed out looking for a midwife. I was so grateful for other pilgrims who were aware of my plight and stayed with me until he returned. When the contractions came, I forgot all about the noise and dirt surrounding me. I wished the woman at my side was my mother.

 

I felt life being ripped from me. But this little one had to live. Even if I died, he must live. Oh, Jehovah, let it be. The contractions kept coming in waves and there was less and less time between them to try and relax. And then it was over. Or was it just beginning?

 

“…and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2:7 (NIV)

 

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Words to an Unborn King by Valerie Ronald

The road is rough and long to Bethlehem, my child, so to distract myself from the discomfort, I will talk to you in my heart. Where do I begin? 

My life was no different than any other girl in Nazareth. I came from a poor family, yet we found joy and comfort in our faith in the Lord God. My father had just pledged me to be married to Joseph, the man now leading the donkey we are riding on. He is a good and upright man, a carpenter from the line of David. That is why we are traveling to Bethlehem, to register for the census in his own town. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Do you remember the night the angel came? Of course you do; you sent him after all. I have never felt so afraid, until he spoke to me. How could I, never having been with a man, give birth to the Son of the Most High? For that is what he told me would happen. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” he announced, “and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35 NIV) You, my child! It is you the angel spoke of!

I remember often hearing the prophetic words of our forefather, Isaiah. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isa.7:14) That I should be the virgin chosen to give you birth is beyond my comprehension. As the angel told me, nothing is impossible with God. When peace flooded my heart, even in the face of such an extraordinary announcement, all I could say was, “May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)

I am so grateful the angel told me about the miracle of my cousin, Elizabeth’s expected child. The reality of who you are came clear when her child leapt in her womb at the sound of my voice and the Holy Spirit caused her to bless me as the mother of her Lord. Those months I spent with her before her baby’s birth strengthened me for what lay ahead.

As I see Joseph walking steadfastly ahead of us, I am filled with gratitude for this man chosen by God before I knew about you. He had every right to set me aside before our formal marriage, once you were evident, but he chose to believe what the angel of the Lord told him. Even in the face of public condemnation and family scorn he remained obedient. He will be a kind and loving earthly father to you, my son.

All these months you have been growing inside me, child, I have pondered your destiny. It is prophesied you will be a king who will save your people from their sins. Only God can save us from our sins, and you are He. It is a mystery to me how you will do this. Because you are Messiah, you will make a way. For now I wait for your coming, longing to hold you in my arms. Through the coming dusk I see lamps glowing in the windows of Bethlehem. Can you wait until we get there, little one? Already I feel you stretching and pushing to be born, but let the world wait a little longer to see you. I want to keep you close awhile so I may treasure up all these things and ponder them in my heart.

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