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God's greatest magi paved their way!
        Daniel, the undefeated prophet of Babylon, was the wisest of the wise,
        and he likely left treasured predictions which prompted the magi's visit
     I've wondered about the wisemen all my life, ever since first hearing the Christmas story. Who ...? Why ...?
     James 1:5 promises: "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
     God has done exactly that. Let me share His word's wisdom.
     It's true that the Bible doesn't give us the names of the wisemen, but it tells us a great deal about the greatest magi of them all -- Daniel!
     Yes, Daniel -- the undefeated, all-knowing wisest of the Babylonian and Persian wisemen. He was always right, never wrong, according to Scripture. With God's help, Daniel rolled unbeaten from one stunning victory to another. Daniel would be the first inductee in the magi hall of fame. What's more, his number would be retired while still playing, because he correctly called shots for the Lord into his 80s.  
     When Daniel survived the lions' den in chapter 6, King Darius had all the other wisemen and their families executed. As the greatest all-time wiseman, Daniel likely would have recruited new magi to advise the court. Perhaps he chose fellow Jews or others empathetic to God, His people and His ways.
     Naturally, the prophecies of never-miss Daniel must have been treasured among the subsequent wisemen, especially his prediction of the year Christ would be born.
     That's right, Daniel hit an astounding bullseye in chapter 9, verses 24-26. He also predicted Jesus' virgin birth by referring to Christ as "a stone cut out, but not by human hands" in interpreting King Nebuchadnezzar's dream in chapter 2.
     In predicting the exact year the Messiah would come, Daniel certainly would have told his magi about the Living God of love and mercy, about sinful mankind's need for a Savior. Perhaps he clued them in on a star that would guide their way to the Christ child.
     Maybe he left God-inspired instructions for the prophetic gifts to take, especially the myrrh, a sweet-smelling substance used in tombs, symbolic that Jesus was born to die for mankind's sins. Daniel might even had told them to pay attention to their dreams instead obeying a conniving king's instructions.
     So, why were the wisemen so wise? I submit to you Daniel is the answer.
     But don't take my word for it. As a born-again believer, call on James 1:5, and listen to the Holy Spirit in your heart.
-- Rev. Rusty Weller

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