The Magi came from the city of Bactria in the nation of Parthia, which had been a very large and powerful Israelite nation. They had, on occasion, overcome even the mighty power of the Roman Empire, yet this nation is rarely spoken of in historical records. They may have been “lost to the world” but not to God as He had blessed them abundantly. They had grown great over many years until spiritual apathy overcame them and they fell to the forces of Alexander the Great. But the Magi continued on until well after the birth and life of Christ. The presence of Parthians is mentioned in Acts 2:9, during the miraculous Pentecost message in Jerusalem. There are also Christian drawings of the Magi on the walls of the catacombs under Rome https://members.efn.org/~opal/therealmagi.html.

God’s hand had been working in the lives of many different people for the Magi to know the certainty of the event of Christ’s birth. The Bible and other historical records reveal startling things from the days of Joshua that led these Eastern men to know exactly what had happened.

Zoroaster, being the Jewish prophet who formed and trained the Magi, would have been familiar with the writings and prophecies of the Old Testament. He noted that a particular prophecy stated that a special star would announce the birth of a new King of the Jews. This prophecy came at a time when the Israelites were coming out of the wilderness, and marching towards their promised land.

We pick up the story in Numbers 22:1, “Then the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho.” At this point, they had crossed over the river Jordan and were now near Jericho, near the northern end of the Dead Sea. “Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel” (Numbers 22:2-3).

Balak saw that he was probably the next to fall, so what did he do? “Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River [Euphrates] in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: ‘Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me!’” (Numbers 22:5).

Since Balaam was considered to be a prophet of God, Balak asked for help to get rid of these people. Balaam wanted the reward that Balak offered (Numbers 22:17) but he could only say what God told him to say. Numbers 22 and 23 reveal that God was able to use Balaam’s words for a good purpose, but He was not pleased with Balaam’s selfish motives. Balak and Balaam had a back-and-forth quarrel about cursing the Israelites, but God did not allow it.

What is pertinent to this message is what Balaam prophesied soon after this event: “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult” (Numbers 24:17).

The Gill commentary speaks of a celebrated rabbi whom the Jews called the Sage or the great one, saying this verse, being interpreted by both Jewish and Christian writers, understand it partly of David, and partly of Christ, but principally and completely in Christ. He also states that Zoroaster, being acquainted with this prophecy, spoke to his followers about the sign of a star shining, and ordered them to go where that star directed, offer gifts and worship the Child.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, mentions that several historical writers say this verse refers to Christ. Other historical records speak abundantly of Zoroaster and the Magi. Reliable sources state that the Alexandrian library had in their catalog of scrolls two million lines (equaling 40,000 of our pages at 50 words each) on the life of Zoroaster alone. “Zoroaster was the early teacher of the Magi as Moses was to the Jews” (https://www.askelm.com/star/star003.htm).

God used those of His own people, from a different area, to tell those in Jerusalem of the amazing event that would affect the whole world.

Luke 2:8-12 tells of an angel and bright lights announcing Christ’s birth to the shepherds. Then the prophecy of a shining star, known by the very descendants of Israel, now named Magi from Parthia, brought news of the birth of the King of the Jews to the upper-class people of Jerusalem.

When God wants something recorded for posterity’s sake, He makes sure it happens as prophesied. Using wise men from the east to appear at that specific time by following a prophetic and miraculous star shows God’s hand in providing irrefutable evidence to back up prophecy. God works in mighty and effective ways to reveal His workings to mankind.