The Story in the Stars

As a child, I would often lie outside looking up at the night sky – I was in awe of the stars and the moon. I believed then, that the stars held some secret, a story, which the moon knew about but refused to tell. Childish imagination? Maybe…

Even today I still marvel at the night sky but now, rather than lie outside, I sit in silence on my balcony at night in awesome wonder. The night sky continues to have my rapt attention, especially on those nights when the stars, out in full force, and the moon in all her splendor, prominently display God’s handiwork. And I continue to feel that there is a story to be told by the starry hosts. So strong is that feeling that it has remained with me over the years. 

Very recently, after one of my star gazing sessions, I was overwhelmed by a compulsion to know more and decided to investigate. First I was drawn to a particular Scripture verse, a conversation between God and Abram in the Book of Genesis, that was familiar to me…

“He took him outside and said, Look up at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them…” – Genesis 15:5 (NIV)

I’ve always been curious to know why God wanted Abram to count the stars. Who can count the stars? It must mean something other than literal counting, so I decided I’d read that same verse in the King James Version.

“And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them…”

At once “tell the stars” jumped out at me. Clearly my feelings were not lying all these years! There is indeed a story in the stars, why else would God say such a thing to Abram. God was actually telling Abram to narrate the story that was in the stars, if he could. Time to dig even deeper. Was I on the right track? Another verse popped into my head…

Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

All these words were an indication that communication of something was taking place in the sky – “tell”, “declare”, “proclaim”.

Psalm 147:4 tells us that God Himself determined the number of the stars and named them all. The Hebrew word “micpar” translated “the number” means narration. In other words God determined the narration, He wrote the story that the stars tell, and He gave them all their names. So every star and every constellation was named by God. This was not without reason. I researched the names and a picture began to emerge right before my eyes. Here are some of the names, Virgo, the Virgin; Aries, the Ram or Lamb; Aquarius, the Water-Bearer; Ara, the Altar. Other than the obvious signs of the Zodiac, are you seeing the picture? 

The story in the stars that God told Abram to narrate that night was the story of Salvation through Christ. That’s why when Abram believed God by faith, He credited it to him as Righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:7-9, 16). Just as when we believe by faith we receive Righteousness (Romans 3:22). 

The Magi knew of the Messiah’s birth through their observation of the stars. They knew His location because of that one star.

Matthew 2:2 (NIV)

“for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.”

The stars are for signs and appointed times, coming events; they communicate the good news of Salvation – the Gospel Message – by their names and the order of the constellations (Genesis 1:14; Isaiah 7:14; Jeremiah 23:5). The story of Salvation has been in the stars since the time of Creation. 

Isaiah 40:26 (NIV)

“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.”

Scripture tells us that the stars preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ; their messages are the same (Psalm 19:3-4; Romans 10:18).

My intention here is not to go into every detail but simply to pique your interest and point you in a direction which will enable you, and hopefully encourage you, to do your own research. God, in His infinite wisdom, has placed His wonderful Plan of Salvation in the heavens for all the world to see but like everything else, that too has fallen prey to perversion. The signs of the Zodiac now point to man in the form of Horoscopes, instead of to Christ. The Zodiac was meant for the glorification of God not man. 

Still, the story in the stars remains…”Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” (Isaiah 40:26 NIV)

The Story in the Stars   Shelley Johnson 04-May-2016