Legitimate doubt…

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. Matthew 2:7-10, 12

The most beautiful doubt is when the downtrodden and despondent stop believing in the strength of their oppressors. Bertolt Brecht 

Last week, we discussed how the Magi visited King Herod while searching for the exact whereabouts of the babe. Although Herod claimed he wanted to worship the child, the Magi were skeptical, as they had likely heard of Herod’s reign of terror and could discern his true intentions. Their doubts about telling Herod where to find the child King of the Jews was confirmed by a dream warning them not to go back to Herod, so they returned home by a different route.

While doubt isn’t always helpful and can often be harmful if held onto, it can sometimes lead to weighing options to make a wise decision. Sadly, the historic Donner party was a circumstance where doubts being heeded could have saved lives. The Donner party’s doubts about Hastings’ Cut-off to California led to fierce arguments, but the lure of a “shortcut” won out over legitimate doubts. The cutoff actually cost them valuable time, so the wagon train was caught in winter snowstorms in the Sierras where trapped by snow, many perished.

When you are doubtful of a person or situation, carefully consider why you are doubtful.  Is it with legitimate reason that you are cautious or skeptical? Or are you lacking faith in something or someone that is true and right, perhaps because you are fearful of the hard work involved or other challenges.  Above all, pray about your decisions; seek to be wise.