An Advent Storybook and Study: Seeking Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
Copyright 2025 by Lūminé Press, Written by Elsie Lungren, Illustrated by Nicoleta Dabija
Day 09
“Today,” began Mormor, “we will see how Ethan of the East and the three kings are preparing for their journey.”
Introducing the Star of Bethlehem, a Guiding Light
Caspar was hopping up and down in excitement. “Librarian, you said there is a scroll that mentions a star, and I think it would be very helpful if there is a star that could guide us. Can you please let us look at that scroll?”
Ethan, the librarian, gently opened a scroll. “This ancient scroll contains the Book of Numbers written by Moses. It is very old and we must take great care with it. Take a look at chapter 24, verse 17.”
Melchior spoke up. “Chapter 24, you say? Isn’t that when a wicked prophet is hired to curse the Israelites?”
Ethan answered, “Technically, yes. The king of Moab, called Balak son of Zippor, did hire a non-Israelite prophet known as Balaam son of Beor to come and put a curse on the Israelites. Balaam knew that he himself didn’t have the power to do that, and so he went to ask God to put the curse on the Israelites. Of course, God said no. In fact, God made it so that Balaam could only speak the words that God put into his mouth, and in this way God used Balaam to bless the Israelites instead of curse them!
“What is interesting about Balaam is that God did speak to him, and so he was a prophet, but he was not an Israelite and his heart was not right with God. He was just in it for the money or the reward. This is why he is sometimes called a wicked prophet. Yet, God used him. God can use anyone he chooses to do His work. In chapter 24, verse 14, Balaam begins to speak an oracle. In the Bible, an oracle is a message from God that gets delivered by a person who God chooses, often by a prophet. Read verse 17.”
Balthazar read, ‘I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel’ (Numbers 24:17).
“That’s it!” exclaimed Caspar. “Yesterday we learned that our destination is Bethlehem, and today we’ve learned that there will be a star. We will call it the Star of Bethlehem! Being able to follow this star is better than having a map!”
Melchior spoke up. “We are packed, and our camels are ready to go. Let’s begin our trip. Ethan, you can ride in the saddlebag of my camel.”
“Ohhhhh,” moaned Lukas. “Do we have to stop now? I want to hear about the camels!”
“Tomorrow!” said Mormor with a smile. “Let’s talk about that star that Caspar is so excited about. It’s only mentioned in one passage of the New Testament. Does anyone know where?”
Theo raised his hand. “It’s in Matthew chapter 2, verses 1-12. Isn’t that when King Herod lies to the wise men and says that he wants to worship baby Jesus but he really wants to kill him?”
“Great memory, Theo,” said Mormor. “We haven’t gotten that far in our story yet, as that part talks about what happened after the three wise men, also known as Magi or kings, reach Jerusalem on their way to Bethlehem, and have a meeting with King Herod. In fact, for our story, which we’re finishing on Christmas Day, we’re not going to include the part about King Herod because that affects things that happen after the birth of Jesus. However, these verses confirm that the three wise men had been following a star. The star is mentioned in verses 2, 7, 9, and 10. Let’s look at parts of verses 2 and 9:
‘…We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him… 9and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was’ (Matthew 2:2b and 9b).”
Mormor continued, “Tomorrow we will start on the long journey with the three wise men and our ancestor, Yì Chén of the East, who we affectionately call Ethan the Librarian. Did you know that, in the Chinese language, Yì Chén means ‘sun, moon, and stars’? Isn’t that a great name for a librarian?”
“That’s a fabulous name,” exclaimed Annika, “because libraries contain books that provide a record of all that people have done in their effort to explore the world, to discover new things about how the world is designed and how it works, to ponder philosophical questions about what is true and good and beautiful, and so much more. The sun, moon, and stars provide light to the world we are in, and there is so much to discover about them!”
“I’m glad you brought up the true, the good, and the beautiful, Annika,” said Mormor. “Tomorrow, when we meet the camels, you’ll see why!”
Application: In our story today, we focused on the star. The three kings are excited about the star because it can serve as a guide on their journey. Following the star will lead them to Bethlehem which is where they will find Jesus. Living our life is like being on a journey.
Every day we have many decisions to make. We choose our words all day long. We decide what to say to someone who we disagree with, what to say to someone who has something we want, and what to say when we want to hide something we feel badly about. We decide if we are going to spend our free time watching TV, reading a book, playing sports, creating art, talking to a friend, or any number of things. We decide on what we are going to do first, second, and third depending on what our priorities are. We decide if we are going to eat healthy food or unhealthy food. We decide if we are going to study for a test or hope that we are good at guessing.
Some decisions are so big that it’s like our journey comes to a fork in the road, and one decision will send us in one direction, and another decision will send us in another direction. These are decisions like choosing what college to go to, what subject one wants to study in college, what career one wants to have, or what person one wants to marry.
But even in our everyday life, if we choose to lie to a friend, or be mean to a friend, we might find ourselves losing that friend. And then, that friend would not have an influence on us anymore. That could be a good thing or bad thing, but either way it could affect our journey.
So every day, as we make decisions about what to say, what to do, how to respond to others, and how to use our time, it would be very helpful if we had a guide! Well, guess what?! God provides us a guide. The Bible is a guide. The Holy Spirit is a guide.
The following list contains 22 verses that provide promises and hope about how God is not only with us on our journey, but He is a guide for us if we allow Him to be. If you pick one of these verses and memorize it, it will provide you with peace on your journey. The peace of knowing that God is with you and God is a wonderful guide. If you can’t choose one, then try Isaiah 30:21!
Readings:
22 verses about God’s presence and guidance on our journey through life
Genesis 28:15a “I am with you and will watch over you where you go.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 25:4-5 “Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”
Psalm 48:14 “For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.”
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”
Psalm 119:133 “Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.”
Psalm 121:3 “He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber.”
Psalm 121:8 “The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Psalm 139:9-10 “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Proverbs 16:9 “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”
Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
Isaiah 30:21 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”
Isaiah 42:16 “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; 17I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”
Isaiah 48:17 “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”
Isaiah 57:18-19 “‘I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him… Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the LORD. ‘And I will heal them.’”
Isaiah 58:11 “The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
Matthew 7:7-8 “‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.’”
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
Hymn: As With Gladness Men of Old written by William Chatterton Dix in 1861.
