Introduction
• On the fourth day of creation, God created the stars in the heavens. The light we see from the stars in the night sky could have taken hundreds or thousands of years to reach the earth. The amazing complexity of the universe was not a challenge for God. That included the creation, and timing, of the light in the night sky that pointed to the birth of our Savior.
• I’m Brent, and this is episode 66 of The Bible Unplugged. We take a close look the amazing timing of the creation story to show how God used the lights in the sky to announce the Savior’s birth.
• Please take a minute to look at the show notes for this episode at PowerLoveandMiracles.com.
The Magi
• In Matthew chapter 2, we read about mysterious visitors from the East—the Magi—who followed a star to Bethlehem.
• The Magi were astrologers or wise men from Persia—likely influenced by the Hebrew Scriptures and wisdom introduced centuries earlier by Daniel and others. They studied the heavens because they believed the universe told stories. And this time, they were right.
• The Magi show up at Herod’s doorstep with no back story. We don’t know exactly who they were or how many came to worship the new King. Their names and the number come from later tradition, not Scripture.
• The announcement of the Savior’s birth was written in the night sky for all to see, but very few understood.
• The wise men went to Bethlehem and presented their gifts. Not only was this an affirmation of Jesus as the King of the Jews but also gave Mary and Joseph the financial resources they needed when they fled to Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath.
The Story Told by a Star
• What exactly did the Magi see? Was it a supernatural miracle? A natural phenomenon? Or, perhaps, both? And, more importantly: what does the star mean?
• The star of Bethlehem is a story of cosmic design, prophetic fulfillment, and divine communication through the skies. It’s not just astronomy—it’s theology written in the stars.
• Matthew tells us in 2:1-2 that:
• The Magi saw “his star”—something unique, significant, and personal.
• Later, in Matthew 2:9, it says the star “went before them and stood over where the child was.”
• Whatever this was, it wasn’t just a bright light in the sky. It was directional, purposeful, and timed. When the Magi saw it, it meant to them a king was born and they followed it to find him.
The Magi and the Ancient Skies
• But, how did they connect a star with a Jewish Messiah? Because of Babylon.
• When the Jews were exiled there in 6th century BC, they brought their Scriptures, prophecies, and apocalyptic visions. People like Daniel likely influenced Babylonian astrologers. The Magi may have preserved fragments of that tradition for centuries.
Natural Theories: Could It Be Astronomy?
• Scholars and astronomers have proposed several natural explanations for the star. Around 2 BC, several rare combinations of planetary movements happened in succession:
• Jupiter (known then as the King Planet) and Venus (associated with motherhood) came extremely close together in the sky. The technical term for this is a “conjunction.” This conjunction appeared to be one bright “star.” Ancient observers saw this as highly significant.
• Jupiter also made a rare triple conjunction with Regulus, the “king star” in the constellation Leo. From the viewpoint of earth, these two celestial bodies appeared to move together and then separate three times over the span of one year. The number three represented divine completion in that culture.
• Jupiter’s apparent “backward” movement in the sky (due to Earth’s orbit) might explain the star “stopping” over Bethlehem. To ancient observers, this could appear miraculous.
• Some suggest a comet (a traveling celestial body) or a supernova (an exploding star), though these are less likely since ancient records—like those from Chinese astronomers—don’t align well with the biblical timeline.
Was It a Miracle?
• Many believe the Star of Bethlehem was purely supernatural—a unique event created by God for that moment. The possibilities include:
• A hovering radiant light (like the pillar of fire in Exodus)
• A guiding angelic presence
• Or the manifestation of the Shekinah—God’s glory made visible
• But maybe we don’t have to choose between miracle and nature. Maybe, as in many of God’s acts, He used natural means at supernatural moments and in supernatural ways. The same God who set the stars in motion could time their alignment to announce His Son’s arrival.
More Than a Star: A Message
• The star wasn’t just a directional tool—it was a divine message to outsiders.
• God used the language the Magi understood—the sky—to reveal the Messiah. They didn’t need to know Hebrew. They didn’t need a prophet. They just needed to follow the light they were given.
• Long before Jewish leaders acknowledged Him, Gentile seekers bowed down. This was a fulfillment from Isaiah 60:3, “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
• The star wasn’t just astronomy. It was evangelism.
Takeaways from the Star of Bethlehem
• There are several takeaways from the Star of Bethlehem.
• Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” When Jesus entered the world, the Creator used His own creation as a cosmic announcement. The same God who spoke galaxies into being used one of the stars as a guiding sign for those who were watching.
• Those who seek God find Him. The Magi traveled hundreds of miles on faith. God met them halfway. When we seek God with sincere curiosity, He never hides.
• God’s guidance often comes in unexpected ways. These weren’t priests or prophets. They were outsiders—yet they followed the light they were given, and it led them straight to Jesus.
• Creation still points to the Creator. Science and faith are not enemies. The deeper we look into the design of the universe, the more awe we find for the Designer.
The Challenge for Today
• I have some challenges for you this week:
• Spend a few minutes under the night sky. Let the beauty of creation remind you that the same God who placed the stars knows you by name.
• Look for light in unexpected places. The Magi followed a light others ignored. Pay attention this week to subtle moments—a conversation, a memory, a song—where God might be guiding you.
• Be the star for someone else. The star didn’t call attention to itself; it pointed people to Jesus. How can you do the same this week? A kind word, a gesture, a prayer can lead someone toward hope.
The conclusion
• Yes, the music in the background means have reached the end of the episode, but I’ve got a lot more on the way.
• I hope this has been helpful. If so, take a minute to give this podcast a high rating and share it with someone you know.
• In the next episode, we look at the different ways God conveyed the message of Jesus’ birth. I have a devotional series for the Christmas season and a book series, “Saints, Sinners, and Scandals: The Real Story of Jesus’ Birth.” Both are available at PowerLoveandMiracles.com.
• My prayer for you is that you would see not only the majesty of this universe but also glory of the God who created it.
• Have a blessed week.
The disclaimers
• Just to let you know:
• All opinions are my own. If you agree, keep listening. If you don’t… keep listening. I know I have some good stuff here for you.
• All Bible quotations come from the World English Bible which is a public domain work.
• Our show theme song is “Awesome Call” by Kevin MacLeod and is available under a Creative Commons license.
• The content of this podcast is copyrighted 2025 by J. Brent Eaton
• This has been a Power Love and Miracles production.
