Since my teens, I knew that God spoke against astrology. I’m not going to argue the point. God makes it very clear in a number places in the Bible. As I read, I saw them. I cannot call them out right now other than Daniel condemned the King of Babylon for following stargazers. Naturally, that is in Daniel.

I was well into adulthood when I saw something that floored me. Truly, I can only speculate. While archeologist were digging around the Temple, they discovered a copy of what appeared to be the astrological signs, arranged in a circle, right out in the middle of one of the porches.

I can’t explain that and I will not try. However, God is very clear. We are to go to Him and his Word for wisdom and not the stars. It does appear to be a very stark contradiction. Of course, in a year or two, I’ll know. For now, however, I’m going to have to plead ignorance.

Maybe, possibly, I can bring a small amount of light if I am allowed a wild guess. Bear in mind, it is just a guess. First, in Genesis, God tells us that He gave us the constellations as guide to tell when to plant and when to harvest; a sign for the seasons. I suspect that it is something that has followed mankind through history. It would also make it easy to turn the constellations into gods or messages from gods. How easy it is to start worshiping the created instead of the creator.

Nonetheless, God did provide them for guidance. They were gifts from God, not gods.

I found another interesting fact. Each of the twelve tribes of Israel had it’s its own flag, standard which God told them to carry before the tribe whenever they moved from one place to another. I think you will find that in Exodus, though I am not sure.

Try as I might, I could not find what was on each of the flags. It has caused me a little curiosity. It is one of those questions I will have for God, though I really wished he’d tell me sooner.

Now, this is where I go out on a limb, maybe the proverbial plank. I hope God will forgive me for a little conjecture, but it does fit. The flags might have each had a constellation on it. It makes sense, but, as I said, it is a guess. If each constellation represented one of the tribes, twelve in all, it would not at all be remarkable to find the constellations to be on the porch. It would in no way imply that they were used for worship or guidance.

If wrong, then you will have to wait like me. That is, unless those archeologists find something else that explains it, like maybe those banners.