Jul 14 2008
Those Pagans Had It Right
In an Old Testament chapter (Dan. 2), Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar had just imposed the death penalty upon his wise men for their utter inability to relate and explain his mysterious dream of a huge statue. In desperation, the terrified men cried out:
“The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore [there is] no king, lord, nor ruler, [that] asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And [it is] a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh” (Dan. 2:10, 11).
This event occurred around 600 B.C. Theologically speaking, the wise men were correct in their claim that the “gods” did not indeed dwell in human flesh. But six centuries later in a Bethlehem manger all this would change for God would take upon Himself the likeness of human flesh (Rom. 8:3; Heb. 2:14), and actually dwell with sinful humanity (John 1:14).
This miracle of miracles would transpire in Luke 2:7:
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).