Do the actions of the wise men from the east in following the star of Bethlehem vindicate the practice of astrology?
The fact that the wise men followed a star to find Jesus does not give approval to astrology, because God specifically forbade Israel to engage in astrology (Isaiah 47:13; Jeremiah 10:2; Deuteronomy 4:19, Deuteronomy 18:9–14). Perhaps the magi related the appearance of the star to Numbers 24:17, but while God used this star to reveal the time and place of the birth of the King of kings, there is no reason to believe that the stars reveal anything else about any lesser events on earth.
No, even though these Magi were apparently orientated towards astrology. They saw a star when it rose
(these words, in this particular context implies in the east,
since the Magi from the east
obviously saw the star there; the Greek word used here also indicates a star that becomes visible above the horizon). Since we are unfamiliar with the way in which these Magi interpreted the stars, however, we really cannot say much about this star. Apparently the place where it appeared pointed to the land of the Jews and the time of its appearance was directly related to the idea of kingship.1
It is called his star,
but it is not exactly clear how the wise men connected this specific star with the birth of the King of the Jews. Did they interpret the figurative reference to a star in Numbers 24:17 literally or was it their knowledge of astronomy which brought them to this conclusion? It is certain that we cannot conclude from this that there is always a relationship between the stars in heaven and events on earth, however. Moreover, God had expressly prohibited his people from engaging in the practice of astrology (Isaiah 47:13, Jeremiah 10:2, Deuteronomy 4:19; see also Deuteronomy 18:9–14).2
Their actions cannot in any way be considered as normative. If there was one event in the history of the planet that could actually be associated with specific events in heaven, then it would have to be the most important event in world history: the incarnation of the Son of God. It is wonderful that the birth of Christ coincides with an event in space which then had to take place in accordance with the divine ordinances for the heavenly bodies (in terms of alignment, the trajectory of comets, and so on), just as when God sovereignly orchestrates the appearance of a new heavenly phenomenon (a nova).3
2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”