The most influential help of all was their own vision from God Himself. In the book, Revelation of the Magi: The Lost Tale of the Magi to Bethlehem, the author, Brent Landau, translates the ancient Syriac manuscript written from the perspective of the Magi themselves. In the writing, they tell of a vision of Christ as a Star Child compelling them to come, fulfilling the words of their ancestors.
Here's a quote from the book:
"And again, we saw that heaven had been opened like a great gate and men of glory carrying the star of light upon their hands. And they descended and stood upon the pillar of light, and the entire mountain was filled by its light... And when we entered [the cave], being afraid, and we bowed our knees at the mouth of the cave because of the very abundance of light. And when we rose at its command, we lifted our eyes and saw that light, which is unspeakable by the mouth of human beings. And when it had concentrated itself, it appeared to us in the bodily form of a small and humble human..."
Though the Revelation of the Magi is historical and not considered the inspired Word of God, we can glean history and perspective for greater understanding. Further, the book tells of a book of history they had passed down to them from Seth, who received from the teaching from Adam. The vision was the fulfillment of what Seth taught them through his writings. Though a profound thought, even hard to imagine, what is clear is the Magi had a supernatural vision from Christ Himself that compelled them to seek Messiah, from the lineage of the Jews.
The Ishmaelites had:
A Hope.
A Word.
A Belief.
A Teaching, and A Vision.
So, they began their journey.
