Matthew 2:12
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
After finding and worshiping the infant Messiah, the wise men were warned by God in a night dream not to return to Herod or tell him of their success, and they obeyed by avoiding Jerusalem and departing into their own country another way. Their obedience thwarted Herod's plan, kept him from learning where the child was, and formed part of God's provision to protect the infant's safety. Their failure to return left Herod anxiously waiting and made him suspect and fear that they had discovered his intent to destroy the infant King and had deliberately avoided him. When he learned they had left without reporting to him, his anger led him to order the killing of Bethlehem's young children. Their heedful response to the light and guidance God gave them sets them apart from those who failed to recognize the time of their visitation.
Wise Men and Journey
The wise men from the East were upright men, honored for their integrity and wisdom, who studied the signs of God's providence in nature. God reached them in a way suited to them, for they studied the heavens, and He used a remarkable star suited to that study to lead them toward Christ. That star was accompanied by angels, and through it God revealed Christ to them in the way that best reached them.
They came into the land of Israel down the Mount of Olives with Jerusalem in sight, guided by the star that rested above the temple and after a season faded from view. They pressed onward eagerly, confidently expecting the Messiah's birth to be the joyful talk of everyone, but their inquiries were in vain. They entered the holy city and went to the temple, amazed to find none who had knowledge of the newborn King, and their questions drew no joy but surprise and fear mixed with contempt. God guided them to the child, and the gifts they brought helped provide for Jesus and His parents during their journey to Egypt and their stay there.
Warning and Divine Protection
After finding and worshiping the infant Messiah, they were warned by God in a dream, a night vision, not to return to Herod nor to tell him of their success. In obedience they avoided Jerusalem and departed into their own country another way instead of going back by Herod's city. The same divine warning turned them home by another route without reporting to him. Their obedience thwarted Herod's plan and kept him from learning where the child was and finding Jesus, forming part of God's provision and guidance to protect the infant's safety.
Their failure to return left Herod anxiously waiting for them to come back. That waiting delay turned to suspicion and fear that they had discovered his purpose to destroy the infant King and had deliberately avoided him. When he learned they had left without reporting to him, he became angry, and his anger moved him to order the killing of Bethlehem's young children.
The Eastern magi's heedful response to the light and guidance given them sets them apart from those who failed to recognize the time of their visitation.