Matthew 2:1-18
God of My Mistakes

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, "Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him." When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,
'You Bethlehem, land of Judah,
       are in no way least among the princes of Judah:
for out of you shall come forth a governor,
       who shall shepherd my people, Israel.' "

Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him."

They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Being warned in a dream that they shouldn't return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."

He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called my son."

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,
"A voice was heard in Ramah,
       lamentation, weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
       she wouldn't be comforted,
       because they are no more."

World English Version

Was it in God's plan that the Magi should stop in Jerusalem on their way to worship the Christ child? Most Biblical scholars believe that to be true, with Matthew using their visit to firmly establish that the coming of Jesus Christ was foretold in the writings of Hebrew prophets.

But what if the Magi were more like me? If they were, they would have blundered into Jerusalem in their eagerness to see the newborn king. I can see myself in their company, thrilled as I observed that the star we were following seemed to be approaching the capital city of Jerusalem. In my defense, I'd never heard of the small town of Bethlehem, a mere five miles from Jerusalem, so mine would have been an honest mistake! My direction in reading the stars would have been just slightly off to set course for Jerusalem instead of Bethlehem, and after all, the infant king just had to be at the palace in Jerusalem. I would have been so certain I was correct that I would have ignored the star as it seemed to veer left when I reached the walls of Jerusalem.

I would have paraded proudly with my fellow astrologers through the gates, heading straight to the palace. I would be certain the citizens of this less developed country would be amazed that we had recognized the messages in the heavens, and that they would be eager to share with us their glorious news of the baby king.

So, I would have been puzzled by the reaction of King Herod. He hadn't heard of the birth of the future king? All I would be able to read from his face would have been bewilderment, but looking around the throne room, I would have seen furtive glances and outright fear as the advisors whispered in the corners and hurriedly slipped out of the room.

Maybe at that point, I would have realized the danger we had created. Maybe I would have prayed to the Hebrew's God, "O, Lord, what have I done? This king didn't know about the new King you brought into the world, and now this infant will be in danger—all because of my arrogance!"

Then again, I'm rarely observant enough to see the mess my sins have created until they are much, much worse.

More likely, I would have watched with amusement at the befuddlement of this small nation's "best and brightest" advisors as they try to explain what we had seen. I would have graciously nodded my thanks as finally they told us to take the southern road out of Jerusalem an hour's walk to a tiny village named Bethlehem.

Of course, as soon as we stepped outside the palace into the evening's dusk, we would have seen the star to the south of us. I probably would have laughed, proclaiming that we didn't need their directions after all—but it certainly was fun to have caused such an uproar in the palace!

Maybe it wouldn't have been until we had the dream warning us not to return to King Herod that I would have realized how we'd put the infant in danger. Maybe I never would have figured it out.

But God knew.

Matthew gives us the prophesies that tell us, centuries before the birth of the infant, that God knew where Jesus would be born, knew that Jesus would be in danger as an infant, to be rushed off to a foreign country for safety. God knew that the Magi's procession into Jerusalem would result in the death of scores of innocent baby boys, as King Herod tried to eliminate a perceived threat.

So it goes in my life. God already knows how I'm going to sin, and how much damage that sin is going to do in my life and the lives of others. Yet, God loves me anyway. God loves me in spite of my poor judgment, my arrogance, my deviations from the guiding stars that God has given me, and my rebellion against what God has told me to do.

Not only that, but God always has a way to carry out what God intends to be done, even when I mess up my part and wreck what others are doing. God's wisdom is far too powerful to be thwarted by my efforts, and God's love is far too strong to simply slap me down when I start to cause problems.

I know my twist on the Magi's story isn't likely to have been factual, given how gifted and studious scholars interpret the original texts and contexts. However, there is divine truth in how our God loves us so much that God allows us to make mistakes, and God works miracles to overcome the damage we do. We have these amazing reasons to rejoice in God our Lord and King, that God is even Lord of our mistakes.