But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past,
will come from you on my behalf. (Micah 5:2)
Micah would have written this prophecy sometime during the the reigns of kingsĀ Jotham,Ā Ahaz, andĀ HezekiahĀ of Judah. Other prophets in his day include Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea. It’s hard to believe these words were written some seven hundred years before they were fulfilled in the birth of our Messiah, Jesus.
How does this prophecy speak to your heart as we focus on Jesus’ first coming? The word that came to me was “humility. Sometimes God surprises us with how he moves among us. Wouldn’t we expect God to reveal himself in a grand and mighty way? Again, God’s message through Micah is exactly what people need to hear to prepare their hearts for Jesus’ coming.
God used Micah’s to bring the message pointing to where this ruler, the Messiah would be born. All those years earlier God made it clear he would enter the world in a humble way! The Messiah would not be born in a grand palace or huge bustling city like Jerusalem. Jesus’ earthly reign would begin in the tiny town of Bethlehem.
Imagining a small village conjures up all sorts of images for us, doesn’t it? For me, I think of the village my father grew up in–a small Wisconsin town of less than 1,000 people. It was primitive compared to the big city I grew up in. According to a Google search, Bethlehem’s population at the time of Jesus’ birth was around 1,000 people. For Bethlehem’s “exact” size, we should consult the census being taken that year! What image of a small village do you picture?
This message of humility is a very timely lesson for us. We’re reminded that good things can come from humble beginnings. Very good things, in fact! In this day and age when there is so much emphasis on “self” and being successful, we should never lose sight of the importance of humility.
What does humility look like? Jesus expounds on the message of humility when he told his disciples years later, “But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” (Matthew 19:30) Jesus was speaking of the day he would be seated on the throne. In Jesus’ kingdom, our humility will be rewarded.
This beautiful prophecy also “connects a few dots” for us. What do we learn? In addition to Bethlehem being a “small village,” this ruler (Jesus) has origins “in the distant past.” Bethlehem is also the hometown to King David. At the time of Micah’s prophecy, King David would have already lived several generation earlier. By the time of Jesus’ birth, David’s life would be distant past.
Jesus is the fulfilment of God’s promise to King David that one of his descendants would always sit on the throne. The multifaceted nature of this prophecy is beautiful, isn’t it? Take some time today to thank God for his humble arrival and the message Micah’s words bring to you.
Let’s pray.
Lord, I humbly bow before you. When I think about how your plans have played out over the years, I am humbled. You always know what’s best, even I cannot see. Help me to get out of my own way and be completely devoted to you. Forgive me for times time when I have been more worried about my appearance, my success, or my own agenda. Your plans for me are perfect. Empower me to walk in your light and share your message of humility with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
