When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. Matthew 2:10, NKJV

In my younger years, my family and I would often find ourselves stopping for a bite to eat.  Whether we were partway on a road trip or just midweek in the hustle of life with two working parents, I was always up for eating out whenever the opportunity came.  On more than one occasion, we found ourselves walking into a relatively empty restaurant as if we were the only customers present, but within five minutes of placing our order lines grew long and the place seemed packed with business.  Whenever it happened, my dad nudged us with a smile and made us feel like we were trend-setters.  Being so young and seeing the phenomenon with some level of frequency, I really grew up thinking that once the Mirandas chose a place to eat, everyone else wanted to be there too.  Of course, it was all just a matter of coincidence.  However, when it comes to matters of faith,  sometimes one person's experience really does go a long way in helping others exercise faith as well.  

At the time of their arrival in Jerusalem, the wise men from the East initially found God's people sleeping on the prophetic promises of Scripture.  No one else seemed to share their anticipation.  In fact, word of their arrival and inquiry only sparked trouble and fear (cf. Mt. 2:3).  But these men were not phased by others' enthusiasm or lack thereof.  They were compelled by a faith that was grounded upon the prophetic Word of God, however limited their access to it may have been.  The magi likely had exposure to the prophetic utterances of a fellow magician from centuries past:  "'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...'" (Num. 24:17).  So when their eyes saw an extraordinarily luminous star that in fact was near, they connected it with the hope of a heaven-sent King anticipated in Balaam's prophecy.  

Have you ever wondered why God allowed the wise men to stop in Jerusalem first?  Maybe it was common sense and practicality.  If these wise men were of the ruling class, it may have just been protocol to communicate intentions with the local leaders.  But I believe God had a redemptive purpose behind this pit stop before reaching Bethlehem.  Herod's court and the residents of Jerusalem may have been a little slow on the draw at first, but the reality is that the wise men's testimony of the star and its intersection with prophecy kindled a renewed interest in God's prophetic Word.  Listen to how Ellen White describes this dynamic:

Through the wise men, God had called the attention of the Jewish nation to the birth of His Son.  Their inquiries in Jerusalem, the popular interest excited, and even the jealousy of Herod, which compelled the attention of the priests and rabbis, directed minds to the prophecies concerning the Messiah, and to the great event that had just taken place (The Desire of Ages, 64).

The restaurant may have been empty at first, but the magi apparently set a trend -- a trend of searching, studying, and seeing Jesus in the pages of prophecy.  Yes, the wise men were following a star with exceeding joy.  And at the same time, I would submit that God was using them to shine like stars to illuminate others' minds and inspire them to seek the One born King of the Jews.  The promise of Daniel 12:3 was being fulfilled through these truly wise men: "Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever." 

Others around us may not always be aware of prophecy, let alone share our interest in it.  

But when we see Jesus in God's prophetic Word like the magi, we cannot help but be moved to worship.

Or said another way, when the testimony of Jesus becomes for us the very spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10), we will live lives of worship that shine brightly and turn many to right relationship with God for themselves.  May God grant us eyes of faith that discern the Star -- the Son of God Himself -- in the pages of prophecy.  And may our worship inspire others to seek Him too.