Momentum For Monday, December 9th 2024

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” (Micah 5:2)

Another great prophecy came out of the Micah in the Old Testament. Micah was a prophet that lived in 8th century B.C., at the same time other Old Testament prophets like Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah did. He resided southwest of Jerusalem and had a passion for the outcasts of his culture (Micah 4:6). Much of his prophecies were directed at powerful leaders in his surroundings.

Micah's prophecies revolve around two specific topics: judgment of Israel and Judah, and the restoration of God's people. However, one of Micah's most significant prophecies was of the birth of Jesus Christ. He prophesied that he would be born in Bethlehem roughly 700 years before it occurred.

There wasn't much significance to Bethlehem specifically. It was a small town, but it was the ancestral home of David. Without the prophecy of Micah, it would be easy to overlook or doubt that a ruler would come from there. But this just speaks to the truth of the history of Jesus. Long before anyone would have ever expected, God saw and used speak to speak of his coming. He used the most unlikely of places and people and he still does.

‘“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, 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.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

(Matthew 2:1-6)