His Story: A journey through the greatest story of all time
The Bible isn’t just an old book—it’s God’s story, and it’s still alive today. His Story takes you chapter by chapter through Scripture, combining simple readings of God’s Word with prayer for every listener and occasional reflections on what the passage means for our lives right now.
Whether you’re brand new to the Bible or have been reading it for years, this podcast is a space to slow down, hear God’s Word spoken, and be reminded that His story is also our story.
His Story: A journey through the greatest story of all time
Kneeling with the Magi
The story opens with motion: travelers from the east scan the sky, see a sign, and choose to move toward a promise. That simple act—to ask, to seek, to kneel—runs headlong into a ruler who confuses fear with leadership and control with safety. We sit with Matthew 2 as it unfolds like a map of trust, tracing the Magi’s courage, Herod’s deceit, Joseph’s midnight obedience, and the God who quietly steers each step through dreams and fulfilled prophecy.
We talk about why the Magi’s gifts still speak—gold for a real but hidden kingship, frankincense for a priest who brings us near, myrrh for a path that descends into suffering before rising to life. We reflect on worship not as a performance but a posture, the kind that drops to its knees and offers what it holds. Alongside that reverence, we face the ache in Bethlehem, where Rachel’s tears remind us that redemption does not skip the valley. Yet even in grief, there’s a thread of providence—Egypt as refuge, Nazareth as home, prophecy as the quiet architecture beneath the journey.
This conversation leans into discernment in a world where flattery can hide a dagger. We explore how to test smooth words, stay alert to the Spirit’s prompting, and move with courage when God says “rise.” If you’ve ever wondered how divine promises survive human schemes, or how ordinary choices can carry eternal weight, you’ll find resonance here. Listen, reflect, and consider where you might be called to kneel, to wait, or to take the next faithful step.
If this story stirred something in you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review so others can find it. Your thoughts and questions help shape where we go next—what stood out most to you today?
The Bible isn’t just an old book—it’s God’s story, and it’s still alive today. His Story takes you chapter by chapter through Scripture, combining simple readings of God’s Word with prayer for every listener and occasional reflections on what the passage means for our lives right now.
Whether you’re brand new to the Bible or have been reading it for years, this podcast is a space to slow down, hear God’s Word spoken, and be reminded that His story is also our story.
Welcome back to His Story, a journey through the greatest story of all time. Today we'll kneel with the Magi in Matthew 2, as the wise men follow a star to worship the child who is King of Kings. Matthew 2 shows both adoration and hostility towards Jesus. It highlights how the Magi represent the nation streaming to Israel's Messiah, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of Gentiles bringing gifts. It emphasizes Herod's paranoia and cruelty as the seat of opposition to Christ's kingship. It notes the irony that foreign seekers recognized the king, while many in Israel remained blind. And it points out that gold, frankincense, and myrrh signify Christ's roles, king, priest, and sacrifice. Let's get started. Thank you for your word, the Holy Bible, that tells us not only about you and your character and your story, but also about us, what is true at the core of who we are as your creation. May we be inspired today, may we be encouraged and motivated. Most importantly, God, may we be drawn closer to you and a relationship with the God of the universe. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he who has been born, King of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose, and have come to worship him. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet. And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler, who will shepherd my people Israel. Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go, and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word that I too may come and worship him. After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, Rise, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child to destroy him. And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet out of Egypt I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem, and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah. A voice was heard in Rama, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children. She refused to be comforted because they are no more. But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead. And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea, in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being worn in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. This chapter is rich with movement. Wise men travelling, Herod scheming, Joseph fleeing, yet at its center is a child, and not just any child, but the Son of God. The Magi's journey reminds us that God draws people from far away to bow before Jesus. And the New Testament says that every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. With the Magi, their gifts weren't random. Gold points to kingship, frankincense to priestly intercession, myrrh to suffering and burial. True worship is always both posture and heart, and that they fell down and worshipped him. Meanwhile, Herod embodies the world's resistance to power grasping at control, which we still see today. But notice God's hand weaving through dreams and prophecies, guiding and protecting. The child is fragile, but he is also the fulfillment of promise. Even as an infant, he divides hearts. Some bow and some rage. When I read this chapter and I see how Herod was deceptive, he he made it seem like that he was on their team, on the magi's team. Hey, go and find out where this new Messiah is so that I may come and worship him too. And he had no intention to do that. And this just reminds me that in this world we have to be on guard for deception. Because Satan is the father of lies. He is the deceiver. And when we see in this world people who are opposed to Jesus Christ, we have to have our antenna up and be very careful and curious about their motives and about what is real and what is not. Moreover, we see that by following Jesus, by following the Holy Spirit in our lives and the leading that he gives us, just as it led Joseph, we can not only be a part of God's mission and his plan, but that he will protect us from those who have ill will and deceitful plans against us. God, thank you so much for this day that you've given us. May we rejoice and be glad in it. Thank you for this passage in Matthew 2, where we see how your plan is not only not thwarted by those against it, but that you use people against your will to accomplish your mission and your purpose. God may we take refuge and comfort and confidence in knowing that your plans will not be thwarted, no matter what. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Next time we'll hear the thunder of God's voice as He gives the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. Until next time, remember, Jesus wrote the greatest story ever told, and that includes loving you and me completely. See you next time.
