Matthew 2:12
“And after being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.”
Herod told the magi to keep him informed about the child, as he wanted to worship him. We don’t know if they were suspicious of him. However, God made it clear to them to avoid Herod.
We learn in a few verses that Herod’s intent was to kill Jesus. Yesterday’s entry was about one hearing God’s Word and trying to change the outcome. That person, Ahab, died trying. So here Herod is trying to alter God’s will by killing the messiah. God thwarts his plan by warning the magi.
I would like to focus on God’s warnings. This one was quite direct. They drempt it. God can certainly do this. If we’ve been walking with Christ for a while I would say He has warned us in dreams. We wake up with a caution about something we were about to do. We do otherwise.
Another way God warns us is with discernment. Philippians 1:9,10 says, “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ”. This is how the dictionary describes discernment, “The ability to grasp and comprehend what is obscure.” This sounds like we are quite wise. If so, it’s from God. David says in Psalm 119:99, “I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.” As we walk with Christ and are in His Word He gives us wisdom.
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We grow in discernment by renewing our minds. How do we do that? By being in His Word, being in fellowship with other believers and going to church and hearing His Word in sermons.
We gain wisdom by praying for it. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” God is generous and He will give us wisdom.
Unbelievers don’t have God’s wisdom. I Corinthians 2:14 says, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” They aren’t born again as His child. Which means they don’t have His nature. It also means that the Holy Spirit isn’t living in them. While an unbeliever may say they are spiritual, this is different. We have God’s wisdom by being His child.
Just as in today’s passage, the Holy Spirit can give us discernment in the moment. We have a pause or a caution about something. There may be no facts to back it up, He is giving it. Either to proceed cautiously or to not go that way. Thank You, Lord, for these warnings.
He may give us discernment about a person. Avoid them or proceed cautiously. We aren’t to trust them. We have to be strong at times and don’t go with them or follow their advice. They may act offended. Be gracious, but hold the course.
Lord, thank You for this warning system. Help us to stay in Your Word and grow in wisdom and discernment. Help us to be strong and not go with those whom You warn us against.