What was the Star of Bethlehem? Probably not a star.

Duh! I (and others) always miss the obvious. However, did God cause there to be clouds so they would have to ask Herod in order for the prophecies to be fulfilled?

I’m guessing there are various types of prophecies. Ones that foretell God’s actions, and others that see into the future, and “see” events that are not caused by God?

One of the best arguments in favor of a "natural" event with Divine manifestations is the behavior of Herod and his advisors in the Biblical story.

If three (or more) guys from lands far to the East had showed up and told them about the sign they had seen in the sky foretelling the birth of a great Jewish king, then they would have been dismissed as hallucinating crazy men if they were describing something that was only visible to them.

They were not dismissed at all. In fact, Herod took them very seriously and was clearly very interested in what these men had to say after they explained what motivated them to travel to Jerusalem.

Like many people, Herod probably had some inkling of what the scriptures said. Hence when some intelligent strangers showed up speaking in a manner of fact way about the birth of the King and Herod got wind of this, he knew enough to ask the question of where Christ was prophesized to be born (Matthew 2:4). Why was that? It was because he knew that scriptures spoke of a coming King. This is completely analogous to the current age where we all know that the King is coming again…..and the only people who don’t admit that are unrepentant sinners who are lying to themselves.

Hallucinating? So the wise men would be hallucinating if they suggest that a ‘star’ that was only visible to them had lead them to Jerusalem?…… but they are not hallucinating and are to be taken seriously when they talked about whatever it was that motivated them (likely coming to them in dreams) such that a group of them should embark on a long journey because of a fervent belief that the King of creation had just been born? And they were there to worship this Child? I don’t get that logic of why one scenario would present them as hallucinating and the other does not….

They were not dismissed at all….. Yes, Herod took them seriously because the understanding of God is written on people’s hearts. I’ve seen that myself with people who have had the gospel presented to them and even though these individuals may not have had any understanding of scripture itself, they knew what truth was when it was presented to them. How was that possible? It has been written into their DNA. Herod knew in his heart that he heard truth, and this is why he called for the wise men to come to him where he could ask them a question of when the ‘star’ first appeared to them (verse 7). As we find out later, he used this information to put plans in place to kill all the male children that were younger than that in his misguided attempt to get rid of Jesus.

There is clear evidence of God’s presence all around ... particularly in the sciences. The most compelling example to me since childhood is the total solar eclipse.

That is, although the moon is just about 400 times smaller in diameter than the sun, it is, by the same ratio, about 400 times closer to Earth ... and we’re here to observe it! A set of “coincidences” that defies mere happenstance.

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