We were Men

 

We were men from a faraway land who had come in search of something or someone. We trailed the signs till this moment hoping to get to what had been long promised in the books and tales passed down from our forefathers of the one who would be like us in so many ways and yet not like us in so many ways.

We set out at the sign of a star in the east, an unusually still bright star that glimmered amidst the dark cruel night sky of the east. This star was calm and still, yet it spoke volumes of a miracle happening somewhere. We set out guided by this star with a resolve to follow wherever it led us. 

There was no need to converse among ourselves or discuss with the elders of our land because we already had a direction to follow. We expected that as we followed the star, it would lead us on and then we would keep on following. And it did just that, so there really was no need for further directions. A man that is set on a course does not need any directions from one who is not on his course.

The star led on, through the jungles of Africa, the dunes of Arabia and at last we came to the rich rocky soil of Israel. It led kindly and solemnly. Verily, this star was on to something very great and we discussed among ourselves what to expect. 

Just before we entered Jerusalem, we found verses in the book of the prophet Isaiah, prophecies about an Israelite king who would save the world and establish a new kingdom here on earth. The king would be extraordinary and he would be a Wonder. In fact, the prophet had called him “Wonderful”. That should have pointed us to the fact that we should not be looking for the regular in our search for this new king. The star had been proof of that for some time.

As we entered into Jerusalem, we were very certain that we were near to the goal ahead of us and we were very open to getting there. If only we stayed with our first prompting- but we didn’t. 

Jerusalem was busy at that time of the year. Every street we turned to had a market going on. Wonderful peaches and blossoms were on display alongside handcrafted baskets and molded jars with artistic delight. Those would have been some good souvenirs for our trip back home but what better souvenir to take back that the satisfaction of fulfilling purpose- the reason why we were here in the first place? We gathered that the emperor had just ordered a census and that was the reason for many people at one time. 

It was only logical that the King of the Jews should be born in the Palace of the current king of the Jews. We had no idea that he was an impostor king who was just set there by the colonial rulers and that his people loathed him very much. It was also proper that whenever we entered into a new city, we paid homage to the kings therein. Did we do that all through our journey from the East? Of course not. We couldn’t do that because we were following someone and we noted that any slight deviation would draw us away. so we were men on a mission and we pursued it seriously, not minding the cultures and logic of the time. We were close now and we thought we could just complete the rest. There must be something we can contribute to the is discovery. If only we knew the best thing we could do was to just FOLLOW.

Our inquiry at King Herod’s palace was useless and turned out to be needless. At first, he together with all his council men and chief s were puzzled and wondered what we were describing. Then in an instant, the mood became sarcastic yet serious. The king made some consultations with some of the aged men in the city and they dug out the same books we had been studying and saw that the Saviour King would be born in Bethlehem. The king then returned to us and welcomed us into his kingdom, emphatically telling us that he was the current king of the Jews. He asked us again what tine our journey began and a whole lot of other discussion that was not beneficial to us in any way. He however sent us on our way to Bethlehem asking us to return back to him with the precise details about our king.

And so we left the palace, not better for it in any way. Just as we stepped outside the palace gates, we saw the star up above and resolved to continue wherever it led. One of us asked nearby what direction it was pointing to and the answer we got made us wonder why we stopped at the palace in the first place. Leading doesn’t stop when we get near, we ought to follow per time. In fact, the whole time we were in Herod’s palace, the star kept pointing in the way we should go but we couldn’t know, because our attention was not with Him. 

Realizing our folly, we followed the star till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, we were glad to have reached…with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and they fell down, and worshipped Him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed in to their own country another way.

Here lies some part of the story in Matthew 2:1-12 as told by one of the Wise men. Matthew took over at some point towards the end actually. 

However, you should know this. GOD STILL LEADS HIS CHILDREN. HE STILL SPEAKS TO THEM PER TIME. They only need to PAY ATTENTION to his leading. A mind that is constantly always tuned to something else will not hear the important One. Heaven helps those who help themselves. The only help you can render to God is to allow Him help you and that can only be done by following His directions. 

He is not a man, so it won’t always be logical. But it is He who leads, your duty is to follow. This is a new year, may we always be sensitive to Gods leading and know what exactly He is saying per time. Amen.

Have a great year ahead folks!

Leye Abiola