by Doug Brosky
“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
Micah was a prophet sent by God to warn Israel of the ominous consequences of their continued rebellion and urged them to repent and return to God. Micah’s message however was not all doom and gloom. His words also contained a message of hope and a promise that if the people turned to God and sort his
forgiveness they would be delivered.
When the people of Micah’s day heard these words there must have been a sense that a relief from the difficulties, they were experiences was on the horizon. Is it not natural when someone tells you something or someone is coming that we put a timeline on that promise, perhaps a few hours, days or weeks or even a few months, but not 700 years? When that event
does not happen as we expect we in our human state forget or reject the promise. God’s way are not our ways and his timing may not be our timing, but his promises will be fulfilled. God speaking through Isaiah, a contemporary of Micah, says “so shall my word that goes out from my mouth; it shall not
return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I
purpose, and shall succeed in the thing which I sent it”
(Is 55:11).
Regardless of the timing long or short Gods promise will be
fulfilled.