The Magi, the wise men coming from east of Jerusalem, saw the star that would mark the place where the Messiah would be born. They were expecting the star. They were looking forward to the time when the Messiah would come into the world, the one that would be the king of the Jews.
In this particular case, there was a physical star, a marker for the Messiah. He was specifically called out by light, a light shining through the darkness of night to show that the Messiah had come. He would bring light, spiritual light, and would even call himself the light. But he was also marked by the light.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-2
This corresponds with other passages in the Old Testament that talk about the Messiah who would come. At some points, the Messiah is referred to as a star himself, the one producing the light. For example, here is a prophecy from the book of Numbers that speaks specifically of the Messiah as a star:
I see him, but not now;
Numbers 24:17
I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;
a scepter will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,
the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
Interestingly, this prophecy came from Balaam, a wicked prophet who spoke true prophecies, yet was condemned for giving advice to Balak how Israel could be cursed through leading them to idolatry and sexual immorality. We continue to see that God can even use evil for his glory or for the good of his people.
In this scripture, we see that the star rises out of Jacob, holding the scepter of a king, coming out of Israel. This prophecy, spoken thousands of years before Christ, would speak of Jesus. From the nation of Israel would come the star, would come the king of kings. He would be the ruler over all of the earth. He would be the star that, in the midst of darkness, would give light to all mankind.