This week, the focus in our Bible study was on the lights God created to rule the Day and Night. This would mean the sun and moon, as well as the stars. Matt has already done an uber-cool post on the awesomeness of our God as revealed through the stars, so my insight will be a little different. Beware: this is not for the faint of heart…or the faint of faith!
We know that God created the stars. But have you ever stopped to think about the fact that He also created the constellations? He placed those stars in specific patterns in the sky. Why? Was it just some random act of creation like an artist casting splatter paint over a canvas? Or was there a heavenly design, a Divine meaning behind the placement of those stars?
I’m inclined to believe the latter. Our God is not a random God. He is a God of order, of design. A God of PURPOSE. And if He placed the stars in specific patterns in the sky, well, then, maybe I’d better take a look at it to see what He will teach me.
I’ve always been a little leery of studying the stars. I enjoy looking at them and am awed when I can get away from city lights and see the immense beauty of a night sky literally filled with light. But to study the stars and the constellations…well, that just kind of borders on astrology, and I’ve learned to stay far away from that. But through this week’s study, God showed me that I don’t have to fear studying the stars. As usual, He has a story to tell. And unlike the days of creation, where He told His story using live-action, this time, He painted pictures in the sky. And He gave it to His people, the Israelites, first…before the rest of us messed it all up with misplaced worship.
The official word for the Hebrew zodiac is the Mazzeroth. I am not going to go into great detail here, but just look it up on Wikipedia. It will blow your mind. The basic concept (with credit to Joy Roberts again) is that there are indicators that “support the Mazzeroth as actually being God’s plan of redemption toldthrough the use of identifying specific stars in the sky and assigning them meanings based on their names and positions.” What’s more, ancient Persian and Arabian traditions ascribe the invention of astronomy to Adam, Seth, and Enoch. The twelve signs of the zodiac have been found in not only temples of Egypt, Chinese, and Chaldean ancestry, but also in Hebrew/Jewish temples, and are consistent throughout. This is not an accident!
There is so much more but I want to touch on what impacted me the most. As we look at the twelve signs of the zodiac, we can see the story unfold.  Strap on your cosmic seat belt and here we go!
VIRGO: For reasons I won’t get into here, we’ll begin with Virgo, the virgin. We see the story begin with a woman (as it did in the garden of Eden and again with the virgin birth in the New Testament).
LIBRA:Â There is a price to be paid.
SCORPIO:Â Represents the conflict: the eternal battle between the woman’s seed and the serpent as prophesied in Genesis and again reflected in the life of Christ.
SAGITTARIUS:Â The archer represents the victor: ultimately He triumphs and wins over the “dragon” or serpent.
CAPRICORN: The goat-fish brings life out of what was once dead, just as Christ conquered death and the grave and was resurrected to new, eternal life.
AQUARIUS: The water-bearer brings living waters from on high and carries the good news of salvation throughout the whole earth.
PISCES: The fishes – plural – multiply as the good news is spread. God’s redeemed grow in number.
ARIES: The ram – the Lamb – is found worthy.
TAURUS: The ox (or bull) represents our invincible ruler, who comes to receive His people.
GEMINI: The twins representing God and man are reunited. We enjoy restored fellowship with God.
CANCER: The crab is also known as the sheepfold where God’s people are secured in His presence.
LEO: The lion reigns victorious.
There really are lessons hidden in the stars. May we be careful which message we choose to hear.